Renee Garing is celebrating her first Mother’s Day this weekend and she shares what she loves about being a mum and what it was like returning to footy
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Her role as mum is easily her most favourite position, but the Geelong AFLW star is also thrilled to be back playing footy.
With five VFLW games under her belt since having Parker, Renee says the passion is definitely still there.
And as she gets to celebrate her first Mother’s Day tomorrow, Renee reflects on how she appreciates her own mum even more now and how thankful she is for the support around her to allow her to be a wonderful mum while also playing football.
Renee is thriving being a mum to Parker. Photo: Ginger + Mint
“I love being a mum, it’s completely different to anything else but it’s just the best,” she beams, adding she has extended her maternity leave from being a teacher until the end of this year.
Parker was born on May 27, 2022, nearly two weeks past his due date.
Renee and husband Tony were eager to meet their little man and say it has been a whirlwind ever since.
“It was all so new and exciting to start with. And as well as having this beautiful little baby, I was able to stop and enjoy it,” she says.
“Life had been so busy with working full time and balancing going straight to footy and then catching up with Tony when I could.
“It was great to just be at home together for those first few weeks.”
Due to having a caesarian Renee had to take it easy for the first six weeks.
“I had a program from a women’s health physio and the club were great, they said I could come in whenever I wanted,” she says, adding they took Parker to a team dinner when he was only a week old.
Renee with husband Tony and son Parker. Photo: Instagram
Renee during a recent VFL match. Photo: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Renee decided to document some of what her post-partum program included on Instagram to show people the reality of what exercise is actually like after having a baby.
She started with short walks, followed by stretches and then slowly introduced some weights. And she was able to do all of this at home while Parker napped.
When she started venturing into the club to train, Parker would go too and she says the support from the club was amazing.
As Parker got older and would take a bottle, Renee would leave him at home with Tony and was able to participate in training sessions with the other players.
“I’ve breastfed the whole time, which has been great. But if he hadn’t taken a bottle I wouldn’t have been able to go back to training as I’d have to go home when he needed me,” she explains.
Last year Renee’s goal was to get selected. But with the team performing so well, opportunities were few and far between. Even so, she did make it onto the emergency list, which was still a huge achievement.
“This off-season I’ve been able to work on my skills. I kept fit throughout my pregnancy and my body doesn’t really feel any different now,” she says. “It’s amazing what our bodies can do.”
Renee has played five VFLW games with the hopes to rejoin the AFLW team. Photo: Ginger + Mint
Renee missed two seasons last year and has noticed how much the game has changed since she hung up the boots when she was 12 weeks pregnant.
“Everyone has progressed and the skills are better. I’ve had to do a lot of work this off-season to try and catch up.”
Renee has played in five VFLW matches for the Cats this year and is eager to be selected for the AFLW team again.
And while she would love to have Parker on the sidelines cheering her on, the matches are often during his nap time so Tony stays home and live streams it.
When asked if she is more cautious playing footy now being a mum, Renee laughs and says “no, I still go in for the tackle”.
However she does wear a Zena sports impact protection vest, a brand founded by former AFL great Brad Johnson and wife Donna.
“I’m conscious that if I do get injured I might not be able to take some of the medication as I am still breastfeeding,” Renee says.
Mother’s Day will be spent with family. Photo: Ginger + Mint
But the biggest change she has found since having a baby in regards to football is that while she still evaluates her own performance on the way home, as soon as she walks in the door to Parker, it doesn’t matter as much as he does.
“I get to come home and cuddle Parker and that’s just the best. He is more important than anything,” Renee beams.
For her first Mother’s Day, Renee plans on spending it with family and just sitting back and enjoying being a mum.
Becoming a mum has also made Renee appreciate her own mum Heather so much more.
“She’s exceptional and so selfless. And it’s not just that she did everything for us but also the worry and the love. She’s amazing,” she says proudly.
Follow @ney_garing on Instagram