A lot of people in their early 20s would be mortified by the thought of seeing their mum on the dancefloor in the club, but not Cherie Clarkson.
The 22-year-old is best mates with her 41-year-old mum Gemma, and the two of them are inseparable – hitting clubs until 2 am most weekends.
Gemma and Cherie, from Swansea, South Wales, spend most of their time together and are often mistaken for sisters when they’re at the pub or at festivals.
There are some people who disapprove of the family’s outgoing antics, but mum Gemma says life is too short to worry about what other people think of you.
‘I get the odd negative comment, with people insinuating I’m too old to still be clubbing, or that I’m crossing some sort of parental boundary,’ says Gemma. ‘But I’m still Cherie’s parent. We’re just very close.’
Gemma home-schools her son, Brady, 11, full-time, but loves spending her weekends making memories with her daughter.
‘I still remember going down to our local for our first drink together when Cherie turned 18. Now, we’re out together most weekends,’ she explains.
‘We’ll go clubbing together, to gigs, to festivals – we just love spending time together.
‘A lot of the time, when we are out together, people won’t immediately realise we’re mum and daughter. I hate to say it, but they do mistake us for sisters.’
Gemma says that because she had Cherie when she was fairly young, the bond between the two of them was instant.
‘We go everywhere together and there’s always a big mix of ages when we hang out,’ she says. ‘Her friends will invite me out and vice versa. If I’m not there, her friends will ask, “where’s your mum?”‘
Before she began home-schooling her son full-time, Gemma used to run a pub, and Cherie would always be in there visiting her mum.
‘She wouldn’t be drinking alcohol, obviously, given that she was underage, but she’d come and hang out while I was working – playing pool or having dinner with her friends.’
When Cherie turned 18, she and Gemma enjoyed their first legal drink together. Since then, the mum and daughter duo have become a key part of each other’s social circles.
Occasionally, a third generation will get involved – with Gemma’s mum Adele, 60, getting involved too.
‘My mum isn’t a massive drinker, so she certainly wouldn’t want to come out clubbing or anything like that,’ laughs Gemma. ‘But she will join us in the pub or for a girly day out.
‘It’s nice to have that quality time – three generations all together.’
Gemma struggles to understand criticism about her close relationship with her daughter – she only sees their bond as a positive thing.
‘You do hear people say, “My kids would be so embarrassed,” but that just makes me really sad,’ she says. ‘I don’t understand the concept of not wanting to spend time with your parents.’
‘I lost a couple of loved ones last year, and I know how much their children would want to spend more time with them, so I want to make as many happy memories as I can.
‘We may have an almost 20-year age gap, but Cherie and I are actually very similar. We like the same music, have the same hobbies and love going out and having a drink.’
And all this partying has brought them closer together than ever. There isn’t anything Cherie feels she wouldn’t be able to tell her mum.
‘Cherie shares everything with me,’ Gemma adds. ‘Sometimes, it can be slightly too much information, but I am glad she feels comfortable enough to tell me.
‘I know she would never be afraid to tell me something or ask me for advice or help. I’d never want her to feel like she has to hide something from me.’
And Gemma is confident that she can keep up with the pace of her daughter’s partying – no matter how late they end up getting home.
‘I’m on the same level as Cherie and her friends and can just about keep up with them,’ she explains. ‘We went out last weekend and I didn’t get to bed until 2 am – but as long as I get a bit of sleep, I’m fine.’
And Cherie says there is nothing cringe about partying with your mum.
‘I don’t see it that way,’ says Cherie. ‘I know everyone’s relationship with their mums is different, but mine is my best friend.
‘I’ve never been afraid to tell her anything. Communication in the whole family is open, and we tackle problems together.
‘My friends love Mum and vice versa. We’re like one big group. I love spending time with her and life is too short to worry about what others think.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/04/mum-daughter-best-friends-go-clubbing-together-weekends-12178286/
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