Supermom

Her coworkers consider her a supermom, often bestowing her with the ‘Mother of the Year’ title, but Antonette Richards, a career civil servant, believes there is always more she can do for her three children.

At 46 years old, the programme director responsible for civil registration and migration at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is raising a daughter and two sons – aged 11, 12 and 13 – in a single-parent household.

“I like to say that God has been extremely good because my children have done very well,” she told The Sunday Gleaner last week, ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations today.

The elder of her two boys, Mattheau, a second former at Wolmer’s High School for Boys, is a consistent awardee in the institution’s Blue Report Ceremony, maintaining an average of over 90 per cent.

The ceremony honours students for their academic achievements, leadership qualities, and overall contributions to the school, and Mattheau has topped his year group in at least three instances.

He is also the recipient of a scholarship from decorated World and Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation, making his debut at the Boys Athletics Championships in March.

Joshua, Richards’ second boy, has also landed at Wolmer’s and is navigating first form on a government scholarship. He, too, topped his year group in the first term and has also joined his brother in the Blue Report Ceremony.

Both are Math Olympiads representatives for the school, Richards gushed, with Joshua taking home the fifth-place award for the grade seven category and Mattheau securing seventh place among the grade eight contenders.

“They have been doing pretty well. They have been excelling academically and they’ve also been taking on new activities and just doing really well. They’ve managed to maintain high standards,” she said.

Danielle, Richards’ youngest, is intent on following in her brothers’ footsteps, she said, aiming to conquer the series of Primary Exit Profile (PEP) assessments.

“My baby is my baby girl and she did PEP this year. So we are waiting. Andrew’s (St Andrew High) is my preference for her because of her personality. So she won’t be a Wolmerian,” Richards said, erupting into laughter.

“We are waiting to see, but she is like her brothers in terms of just doing well,” the mother said, noting that Danielle also has an affinity for numbers, making it to the final of the Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad.

Repeatedly, she has been quizzed on the formula used to raise her children while maintaining a career in government.

She attends the track meets, homework is always done, and discipline is maintained among her children.

“I just tell people it’s God who I believe gives me the strength to do it and I guess because I’m doing it alone and don’t want them to feel left out, I try to go to all the activities and meet their needs.

“There are certain things that I can’t do. There are certain things that yes, a father should do it. So some things I may not be able to give them, but what I do try to do is make sure I am there and present at all times,” she said.

Richards serves as the parent representative for one of the boys’ classes and has served twice as president of the Home-School Association at Our Lady of the Angels Preparatory School, where Danielle is a student.

Remain present

and active

“I’ve always tried to remain present and active in everything that they do so that they don’t feel left out or that they can’t do or enjoy or participate in activities like their friends even though you have one parent doing it,” Richards said.

She is able to maintain a balance with work, she said, because of an “understanding” organisation.

She has been with the PIOJ for close to 19 years and believes she has carved a path of excellence that commands the vote of confidence her superiors give.

“It is having that kind of relationship, where if you’ve proven yourself – that you will deliver on what is required of you – they give you grace. So you are able to balance both parenting and work,” she said.

Richards heads a unit which is the Government’s focal point around migration issues, representing Jamaica in international dialogue.

Her unit also advises the Government and other stakeholders on migration issues relating to Jamaica.

“We have a migration policy that is currently being implemented. We act as the secretariat, overseeing how implementation is being done. In addition to this, we support the civil registration needs of the country, improving the quality of our vital statistics. So, it’s a technical and policy-level operation,” she disclosed.

The role sometimes takes her out of the country and on some of those occasions, she misses key moments.

She recalled being away for work when Danielle did her second round of PEP, depending on her community for school drop-offs and pick-ups while telephoning to ascertain how the exams went.

She also sat in a room overseas awaiting updates on Mattheau’s performance at Champs.

Emotionally and

mentally ready

“It was a lot for him. I think he needed someone in the stands cheering him on because it was his first experience and even having persons booing and all, so he wasn’t used to it. I think he was physically ready, but I don’t think he was emotionally and mentally ready for what Champs actually entails and I couldn’t be there because I had to be on duty travel. So sometimes it can be hard. There are times when I say, ‘God, You really sure You wanted to give me these three children?’

“I honestly thought I was going to be one of those people who was going to be a total career person. I was going to go work for the UN (United Nations) and probably live in Switzerland and sit at sidewalk cafés and drink wine. But that wasn’t the plan. God said, ‘I have these three children for you.’ So we’re riding it through together with love,” said Richards.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com