Joining the Mommy Club reality TV show for Ratile Mabitsela was all about breaking out of her shell, more than anything else. Stepping into her year of yes, being daring and having first times of everything. 

The 32 year old mother of five made her debut television showcase on the mommy-centric reality show, following the lives of Joburg’s ‘it’ mother while they do life. 

Ratile, who shocked viewers with a five children reveal, originally hails from Thembisa and shares that stepping into this platform was one of the most uncomfortable things she has had to do. 

With her blended family, she places motherhood at the help of her life but also believes in being an individual being. Hence the decision to do things that make her happy. Conquering her own goals. 

“I live by the belief that growth is trying something different all the time and if it doesn’t make you scared or nervous, then you need to shift. Having to shoot was a bit scary and now the nerves are all about ‘how will people receive it’, but I am proud of how I took this challenge on and still remained as real as I am,” she said. 

As a young mother, who married relatively young, “and happy”,  she describes that journey of motherhood as a fulfilling one and expressed that she is grateful to have been blessed with such an experience.

“And because I know of the many pressures that some women find themselves in with having children at this unknown prescribed societal time or finding the perfect partner to have a child with, I am grateful that this part of my life happened easily.  I hope women out there realise that they are defined by what allow and that we are all different with different desires. I wanted to be a mother at a young age, that should be someone else’s desire. It doesn’t make you less of a woman,” she said. 

Ratile is a businesswoman and a full time mother. Something that she seemingly juggles seamlessly.

“Before venturing into a career, I focused fully on raising my children. Now, how I juggle work and raising the kids is all thanks to the help that I have at home. A supportive husband and two helpers – grandparents and aunts/uncles that are so hands-on. This sort of help does go a long way. You can’t be successful in all aspects of your life when you are doing it alone. I do believe that it takes a village to raise kids and that has added to my journey.”

Ratile believes in being a multifaceted woman, one who pours into her own cup first so she is able to serve her loved ones. That means distinguishing your own identity before you are a mom or a wife or career woman. Finding yourself and  serving yourself first. 

“An unhappy mom will raise an unhappy child. So the more you do things that make you happy, the more you are happy yourself and are raising happy kids. 

In this year of yes, she is open to any opportunity that comes her way. Whether be it radio, more television and, of course, more business ventures. She is ready to fulfill all her hearts desire while also being an amazing mother and wife.

“I just hope that whoever gets a chance to watch my story unfold on screen is able to find the courage to be their own authentic self. Be a mother that they desire to be and really realise that there is no manual in this parenting thing.  We all come in different ways, as depicted on the show, with our own individual challenges. We are human after all but we strive to write our own stories. I hope every women will be bold enough to do the same, while also looking as good as they know how, she said.