Last Sunday at the Melbourne Estonian House, we celebrated Mother’s Day with a delightful dose of joyful chaos — just the way we like it (the kids certainly did, and we’re pretty sure the mums did too!).
The place was buzzing with energy, from cute newborns (as young as eight weeks!) to young-at-heart grandparents, all gathered under one roof for an afternoon tea that was anything but ordinary.
Children darted across the room like confetti in a breeze — chasing balloons, giggling through games, and occasionally pausing long enough to be wrapped in the loving arms of proud mums and dads.
Bingo, viktoriin and glitter everywhere
We kicked things off with Mother’s Day Bingo, run by our brilliant playgroup teacher and Master of Games, Liis Hallikas. Unsurprisingly, the kids dominated with their lightning-fast reflexes and suspiciously consistent luck. (Seriously, how do they do it?) Adults tried to keep up, but let’s just say our egos took a gentle hit.
Then came the Mother’s Day Viktoriin — a trivia challenge that tested just how much we think we know about Estonian mums. (For example: Do you know how many mums there are in Estonia? Neither do we — but someone at the event guessed correctly!)
You can find a sneak peek of the questions over on the Melbourne Estonian Society’s Facebook page — thanks, Liis! — and test your own motherly knowledge while you’re there.
Meanwhile, creativity exploded in every corner with colouring-in, card-making and drawing fun — ensuring all mums went home with fridge-worthy masterpieces and glitter in their handbags.
Kringel, cakes and bubbles
In true Estonian fashion, the food table was a showstopper. Guests brought homemade treats that could make a MasterChef judge weep: kringel (naturally), colourful cakes, potato salad, cookies and a joyful mix of Aussie and Estonian delights.
Bubbles were popped (the drinkable kind, and the soapy kind — depending on age and energy levels), and for the more sensible among us, tea flowed freely.
All ages, all smiles
One especially sweet feature of the day was a message board where guests wrote down the fabulous things that make their mums so special. By the end, it was covered in loving tributes — words like “kind,” “strong,” “magical,” and our personal favourite: “buys me ice cream.”
And we can’t forget the dads — our behind-the-scenes heroes. They fetched plates, wrangled balloons, juggled toddlers and teacups, and cheered everyone on with that quiet superhero energy only dads seem to possess.
The afternoon was made even more special by beautiful performances from the children’s playgroup and folk dance group. With the help of their parents, they sang songs and danced with a mix of charm and confidence that had the crowd smiling (and a few of us blinking back tears).
New faces, familiar hugs
The new Deputy Chair of the Melbourne Estonian Society, Rano Uesson, led the festivities with warmth and enthusiasm. It was a joy to see new faces joining our regulars — sharing laughs, swapping stories and connecting across generations.
To all the mums who joined us, and to those celebrating quietly next Sunday — we see you, we love you, and we’re so glad you exist. Happy Mother’s Day!
