Three mother-daughter duos share why their bond is the best this Mother's Day
From sharing happy moments to needing a big hug after heartbreak, sometimes only your mum will do. It’s such a special connection that it’s even been studied by scientists.
The Journal of Neuroscience found that the connection between mothers and their daughters is the strongest of all the parent-child bonds. But you don’t need a lab to see all the benefits. From colleagues to flatmates and travel buddies, in celebration of Mother’s Day this coming weekend (March 10), three inseparable mum-and-daughter duos reveal why they make the perfect team.
'Our love of vintage became a mother and daughter business'
Maggie (left) and Megan (right) share a love of vintage clothes and run a vintage shop togetherMegan Pugh, 33, and Maggie Pugh, 57, live in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and run Maggie Mae’s Vintage. Maggie says:
Our shop is my happy place. Walking in each morning to see the beautiful vintage fashion is magical. Best of all, right there beside me is my best friend, business partner and daughter. I’ve always loved vintage designs. I remember being four and mum taking me to jumble sales. Rummaging through the piles and spotting a flash of amazing old fabric was a thrill.
Vintage clothes seemed more elegant and better made. Slip on something from another era, and you stand so much straighter. I was 21 when Megan was born and by 10, I could see she was fascinated by vintage fashion too. She’d sit and play with paper dolls for hours, dressing them up in clothes from the past. It was lovely to have that shared passion.
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I was still working in the NHS in 2011 when I took a collection of clothes to my first vintage fair and sold out within an hour. That’s when I thought about starting my own vintage fashion business. Megan told me to go for it. So in 2013 I opened my own little shop, and despite having her own job in retail Megan helped whenever she could. It was wonderful to spend time together, and bounce ideas off someone who loved vintage fashion as much as I did.
I was thrilled when she joined me full time in 2017. As well as working in the shop together and sourcing amazing fashions we’d visit vintage fairs and events. At Twinwood, Megan would dress in 40s clothes, her favourite era, and I’d be there in 30s fashion. It was such fun, the ultimate mother-daughter day out.
In 2019, we outgrew our shop and relocated somewhere bigger. We transformed it into an homage to a 1930s department store. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together, it really is like stepping back in time. Every item is handpicked by us. There’s beautiful hats, shoes and handbags on the traditional haberdashery counter. Doris Day plays in the background and you pay at an Art Deco-style till.
But the special atmosphere is more than fashion and music. It’s created by two women who share a passion as well as DNA. Running a business isn’t easy. You have to have honesty and great communication. Who better to do it all with than your daughter? I hope we have many more years, and fabulous fashions, to come.
Visit maggiemaesvintage.co.uk
'Mum is my ultimate travel buddy'
Coralie (right) and Michell (left) travel the world togetherCoralie Rose, 44, who works in casting, and mum Michelle Manguette, 74, travel the world together. Coralie says:
These days my travel checklist is short and sweet: passport, suitcase, mum. Whether I’m heading to the high rises of Manhattan or the beaches of the Caribbean, she’s the perfect travel companion. Mum and I have always been close, even before we both became single in 2011. But suddenly, when we wanted to go to the cinema, theatre or dinner, we asked each other.
It was the same with holidays. We had a shared love of travel, and both wanted adventure. So, in 2012 we headed off to Panama for two weeks. I soon realised that we were on exactly the same wavelength.
We didn’t have a detailed itinerary, we just winged it, mixing up a few nights with her friends on an island, a few basic nights in a hostel and then splashing out on a resort with hot showers. Mum knew when to talk and when to listen. We never argued or got stressed and were so relaxed we slept in the same bed if that’s what was available.
That trip kick started our international adventures together. In the years since we’ve been all over Europe – Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels – and took a driving trip to Spain. Then there was Costa Brava, Tuscany, Jamaica and Doha, and we’ve been to Kenya many times. Travelling with mum makes everything an adventure, too. Although not every trip is planned that way. Mum went to Belize and had her passport stolen. I got her a new one and took it out to her!
'I don't want children staying up late at weekends - I really need adult time'
I even go on some of mum’s work trips. She’s a jeweller and we went to New York last year where she bought some semi-precious stones. We travel together three or four times a year and have a perfect rhythm. She trusts me to book hotels because I know exactly what will work for us. It gives us both so much joy to remember past trips and plan future ones – Costa Rica and Nicaragua are coming up. Travelling so much with mum has given us an amazing bond and so many incredible memories. I look forward to making many more.
Visit manguette.com
'We show you’re never too old to live with your mum'
Jan (left) and Eileen (right) share a flat in a retirement village (Fabio De Paola)Jan Grayson, 69, a retired teacher and celebrant, and mum Eileen Moules, 95, live together in Bedfordshire. Jan says: Last month we had a wonderful birthday party for my mum. A chef prepared delicious food and a Chicago-style crooner entertained everyone.
It was the perfect way to celebrate her turning 95. And when the party was over no one had to worry about mum getting back. Just a few minutes’ walk within the same building and mum and I were home – at the door of the flat we happily share. In August 2023, we became flatmates, 50 years after I left home, and it’s been a brilliant new chapter of both our lives.In early 2023 we both found ourselves at a crossroads. Mum was a retired electrical and mechanical engineer, and I was retired too. We were both widows, I’d lost my husband John in 2020.
With my three children all flown the nest I was living in a four-bedroom house that was far too big and needed endless maintenance. It was time to make a change.That’s when Elderswell Retirement Village popped up on my Facebook feed. It was pure nosiness when I decided to go and have a look around. I didn’t have any real plans to move there.
That was until I walked into one of their two-bedroom flats. It was lovely and I could just picture myself in it. Then I thought about mum, who I knew was becoming unhappy with living alone. I came back with her a week later, waited until she was in the second bedroom and then asked, ‘Would you like this to be yours?’ She was so happy. In August we moved in.
We’ve always had a really good relationship, and everything fell into place really easily. It’s been lovely to cook and eat together, sip coffee in the bistro and have our regular fish and chips takeaway each Friday. The building has all kinds of groups and classes, like Knit and Natter, which to be honest is more nattering than knitting! We’ve got our eye on the armchair yoga too.
It’s great to be able to do things together. But we also have independence. Mum has her own bathroom and kitchenette, and I run a creative writing course. Knowing that mum is in a safe community means that when I am off doing my own thing, I don’t have to worry about her. We are the first mum and daughter to live here together but hopefully we won’t be the last. Mums really do make the very best flatmates.
Visit inspiredvillages.co.uk/village/elderswell
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