Women who inspire us; Ida Polnaija-Kakisina

A morning with Ida Polnaija and her twins. We spoke with Ida about motherhood, her Moluccan heritage and what inspires her the most.

Who is Ida Polnaija-Kakisina?

She is a loving caring person with a big heart for her family, powerful because she is aware of her vulnerability and not anxious to show this. But also fierce when it comes to people who are harming the people she loves.

Can you tell us something about your background?

I have a mother who is half Dutch and Half Moluccan and a father who is fully Moluccan. We have a colonial history with the Netherlands which felt like a struggle since I am a mom. Raising children requires awareness of your own identity which in our case also contains a lot of unanswered questions and trauma we want to protect our children from. Both of my parents witnessed a lot of pain and poverty so they worked their ass off to give their children better opportunities in life and they succeeded.

' I get inspired on the street, observing real people who do not know someone is watching them '

Where do you find your inspiration?

On the street, observing real people who do not know someone is watching them.

And lately a lot of indigenous young people all over the world who are reclaiming their heritage and identity.

'My husband and I made the choice for our kids to enter this world as an act of love for each other, that alone makes them worth everything'

What do you like most about your job?

Team Modefabriek, my colleagues. They are all women, I feel safe and seen by them which makes me wanna work even harder because we do it together!

Is there something you would still like to learn?

The Moluccan language and my indiginous language from the village Kaibobo-Ariate where my dad's parents were born.

'My kids make me smile and cry over the most stupid little things'

What was your life like before becoming a mother?

Carefree and wild since I did not had a lot of fear in my bones. But the time I spend with my friends and family is still the same, only with less alcohol and more sleep.

What do you enjoy most about motherhood?

The way my kids make me smile and cry over the most stupid little things.

And what is the most annoying part?

That my energy and headspace is now for 4 people instead of one.

How do you keep balance between being a mother, and just being you?

Please call me if you have the answer to this question! I'm still trying...

How would you describe your style and did it change much over the years?

I think I have this style since 11 years now. It's always colorful, bold, fabulous with a touch of urban.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

''Take reality as it is'' Looks easy, but my brother had to tell me several times before I understood.

For example, We lived at my parents house when i got the twins, my brother also lived there at that moment. I wanted to do everything on my own since Joenoes was working a lot, it was exhausting but they were my kids and my responsibility so I did not ask for a lot of help. My brother always told me to never feel guilty to ask them for help on a daily basis. The reality was we lived in the same house together and my brother and parents loved to nurture the kids, my head told me differently.

What would you like to teach your kids?

That they are descendants of the beautiful indiginouse people of the Moluccan islands, the Alfur people! In our house they do not have to accomplish things to be of value! My husband and I made the choice for our kids to enter this world as an act of love for each other, that alone makes them worth everything.

Where did you meet your husband?

We knew each other from parties and stuff since we where like 16, never talked to him or whatever! And then we met on a film project where we played lovers, which became reality before the movie came out.