Mum’s Job Never Over
Southland Pearls guards Melinda Martin-Donnelly and Patrice Humm have more than just basketball opponents to deal with at the Oreo Open and Wheelchair Basketball National Championships.
They also have the duties of motherhood.
So while their team-mates step off court and warm-down, Martin-Donnelly and Humm have nappy changing and breastfeeding to attend to.
Both recently gave birth – Martin-Donnelly, the 2007 Open women’s MVP, to Jordan in March and Humm to fourth child Pippa in June – but were determined to return to the court to help the Pearls defend their title.
“For me, I have got other kids so it’s actually a break from them,” Humm joked.
“I guess it’s just because we love the game that much and it’s a chance to get fit and to come here and enjoy being with the team.”
“And we’re the only point guards in our team, so they need us,” Martin-Donnelly interjected.
Both agreed the basketball court gave them a chance to be themselves and be something other than mothers, which they were quickly reminded of when games were over.
Martin-Donnelly was a unanimous MVP choice in Tauranga 11 months ago while four months pregnant – “I had help,” she joked – while Humm learned soon after the Open nationals she was expecting.
With a title to defend, Humm returned to playing club basketball and training with Southland within two weeks of giving birth to two-and-a-half month-old Pippa, while Martin-Donnelly was back in action two months ago after returning from her native USA.
“The team has really been supportive of us. We’ve got our own car, so that’s good. They don’t all have to wait for us,” Martin-Donnelly said.
With the pair running the point, Southland kept their hopes of back-to-back titles alive with a 74-58 win over Rotorua to finish second behind Wellington in group A.
The other women’s semifinalists also follow the “family” theme.
Wellington, who play Southland for the women’s title, feature six members of the Letoa-Lepaio-Kiriau family, Massey has six members of the Niha family – five daughters and Dad-slash-coach Sonny – and Hutt Valley feature the Scott and Stubbins sisters.
