The Alluring Tumi Mhlongo​​​​​​​

Tumi Mhlongo gives us her take on the growth that comes with being a mother

- Thina Mthembu

To many, Tumi Mhlongo is that bubbly friend who’ll always come through for you when in need of a shoulder to cry on, she is also a little sister to many, and professionally, she runs a successful publishing company and is the Director of Kwenta Group. However, at home away from the hustle and bustle that comes with being an entrepreneur, she is a wife and a mother to Mia and newborn Anesu who at birth reminded our cover mom just how unpredictable life can be. On this issue of Mamas & Papas magazine, Tumi talks to us about her pregnancy, the beauty of motherhood, and how we should really value the lessons we learn from our mothers.

Q. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE EXPECTING?

The suspicious thoughts started on the weekend before my birthday. I remember how a friend offered me a glass of champagne and for some reason I couldn’t stomach it. My birthday was on Monday, so the next day, I remember the date was 7 November 2017, I went and got a pregnancy test that came back positive. I was definitely pregnant!

Q. HOW DID YOU SHARE THE NEWS WITH YOUR HUSBAND AND LITTLE GIRL?

Soon after finding out that baby number two was on the way I put together a special placard for daddy. Of course he shared my excitement, and he wasted no time telling Mia that she was going to have a baby brother. I asked him how he came to that conclusion so early, and his answer was a proud, ‘I can feel it.’ Miss Mia on the other hand didn’t understand much, however, for some reason she loved playing with my tummy, that was until said tummy started growing. Whenever I’d ask for some special Mia tummy rubs, her answer would be a rather firm ‘NO’. Luckily for me, her love was revived during the last two months of my pregnancy when she came along for the 4D scan.

Q. HOW DIFFERENT WAS THIS PREGNANCY WHEN COMPARED TO YOUR FIRST ONE?