Marise Pollard, wife to Springbok champ Handre Pollard, recently opened up about marriage, her first chapter in motherhood, and plans to move back to South Africa.
The Pollards, who welcomed their first child – a baby boy named Hunter – in April, have been vocal about their first chapter as parents on social media.
Recently, the Springbok WAG took to social media, opening up about life as a mom, the couple’s plans for moving back to South Africa, marriage, and how they chose their baby’s name.
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Marise on motherhood: “It’s not easy, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done”
Addressing her journey in motherhood so far, Marise Pollard says that it has been both rewarding, and challenging.
“I love this chapter. I’ve always wanted to be a mom. It’s not easy, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Motherhood is the most all consumingly beautiful and challenging thing I’ve ever loved.”
Everything changes when you become a mom, what stands out most is just how incredible our bodies are, and how motherhood has the ability to shift your perspective completely, says Pollard.
On life in the postpartum period, the WAG says that the journey has come with its share of challenges and complications, as it so often is in motherhood, after giving birth.
“PP is damn hard, it’s hard for everyone and it’s so important to be kind to yourself and focus on your own mental health.”
“So many advice is, be present with your baby. Look after your mental health. Do and surround yourself with people and things that make you happy. I really made a conscious decision to be positive and to be vocal to Handre and my family if I wasn’t feeling well. Being in a positive mind space was the most important thing for me.”
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Choosing a name for Hunter Pollard
Sharing how the couple chose the name for their firstborn son, Hunter, Marise says that she was after a name that would mirror Handre’s initials. The inspiration for the name the couple eventually settled with came from friends, who named their son Hunter.
“Ek wou graag ‘n naam hê wat ook met ‘n H begin sodat hy dieselfde voorletters as sy pa het (HP) Ook ‘n naam wat werk in Engels en Afrikaans.”
[“I wanted a name that starts with an H so that he would have the same initials as his father (HP). Also a name that works in English and Afrikaans.”]
“Vriende van ons se seuntjie se naam is Hunter, ons het dit gelove en dit was basies dit haha. Dit was die enigste een wat vir ons reg gevoel het.”
[“Friends of ours named their boy Hunter, we loved it and that was basically it. It was the only one that felt right for us.”]
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The Pollards’ plans for moving back to South Africa
The couple, who now live in the UK, are often vocal about their love for South Africa, and in particular, life on the farm and in the bush. When asked if they have plans for returning to South Africa permanently, Marise said that they ‘definitely’ will be returning to South Africa to raise their family.
“We’ll definitely move back one day. SA will always be home and we want to raise our kids here.”
In a recent trip back to her South African family home in Bloemendal, Marise took great pride in introducing their son to the very same home she grew up in.
“So dankbaar om hierdie plek uiteindelik met jou te kan deel my liefste Hunter. Dis huis, en nou jou huis ook. Waar ons onder dieselfde bome gespeel het en op dieselfde grondpaaie gehardloop het. Hier is die natuur jou skool, beter as enige droom.”
‘[So thankful to finally share this place with you, my beloved Hunter. This is home, and now your home, too. The place where we once played under the same trees and ran on the same dirt roads. Here, nature is your school, better than any dream.]”
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Marise on marriage to Handre Pollard
The best thing about being married to Handre Pollard is having a partner, a lover, and a best friend for life, says Marise.
“I love being married. Handre and I always say, it’s the most important decision in your life. Almost all of your happiness can come from that one decision.”
“Having a partner, lover, and best friend for the rest of my life, in him, is the best thing for me. He really is my everything.”
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Feature Image: Instagram / @marisepollard
