How Kate Garraway became our mum-spiration through a traumatic year, from ‘single’ parenting to being a beacon of hope

"A lot of the time I find myself thinking, ‘What would Derek say?’ and ‘What would Derek do?’” 

"I’m lucky that I’m being supported by lots of friends, too, and Ranvir [Singh] has been really helpful because she’s been operating as a single mum since her son, Tushaan, was very little.

“I asked her, 'How do you do it?' and she said, 'You just have to accept that you can’t do everything.'"

The importance of laugher

But as Kate juggles the role of mum, dad, teacher, celebrity, career woman and wife, she’s never lost sight of her humour, even in the darkest moments.

"It's sad as well, so it's making sure there's enough laughter going on as well,” she said to HELLO! 

“That's so important. 

“You find yourself laughing at the silliest things and that's kind of a release, isn't it?"

Home schooling hero

In fact, even through the stresses of home schooling, Kate’s made sure her kids have fun too. 

Just last month she shared a snippet of her and son Bill's play fight, just when she thought he was quietly sitting and doing some school work. 

“Where have you got to with home schooling in your house? This is where we are!” she captioned the clip as Bill filmed himself in their home cheekily admitting he was supposed to be doing school work but was watching TV and climbing on the sofa.

Kate caught him out but he defended himself brilliantly with a light sabre.

“Think it was me that learnt a lesson here - don’t mess with an 11 yr old with a light sabre!!!” she said.

She throws epic birthday parties

Bill and Kate’s adorable bond was also seen last summer when he turned 11. 

Kate pulled a few strings with her celeb pals, Roman Kemp and Myleene Klass to help her out with an epic birthday party for her son. 

There was a jungle camp sleepover, nerf gun shoot offs and some well deserved laughs.

At the time Kate posted a sweet message on Instagram, revealing that she had been feeling nervous about Bill's big day due to Derek still being in hospital.

"So I was super nervous about Bill's birthday this year - we usually have a family do with grandparents & a few of his friends but obviously this is not possible. So we are seeing grandparents separately but wanted to do something for him & his mates in the garden," she wrote.

"Derek is so brilliant at this, organising treasure hunts & boys own adventures so mentioned to @myleeneklass really didn't want to let Bill down & did she know anyone with a tent we could borrow in case it was wet. 

“Little did I know what I was unleashing! She is in her element! At 8.30 this morning she arrived with Apollo in tow to supervise the brilliant @sleepyteepeeuk to set up the most amazing jungle camp ever!!!"

Like mother, like daughter

Just like Bill, daughter Darcey is also a credit to Kate and has supported her mum throughout the past 12 months.

Speaking to GMB in June last year, Kate said: “Just before lockdown, the last weekend Derek was well, Darcey said we needed to go to the garden centre to get vegetables, she said the supermarkets are going to run out of food.

"Without even telling me, just one day in the first couple of weeks of Derek being sick, she dug up an area, which I hadn't planned to dig up, and planted loads and loads of vegetables.

"It's fantastic, we have actually started eating them."

Kate’s often been described as ‘utterly selfless’ by friends and colleagues and this characteristic seems to have rubbed off on Darcey too. 

Kate then went on to explain how Darcey has grown radishes for her dad, but sadly added: "She said, 'I don't even like radishes. I grew these for dad and he still isn't better'.

"I said, 'I know but we can plant more and he'll be glad that we have done it'."

Hope and positivity

By revealing her deeply personal story about how Covid has turned Kate's family life upside down, her selflessness continues.

Next month, her new book The Power of Hope is released with the aim that it'll bring comfort to others who are trying to re-build their lives after the pandemic, despite all it challenges.

"If writing about my experience of facing fear, coping daily with an uncertain future and finding strength for the sake of my kids can help another person feeling lost or in despair, it'll mean a lot," she said in a statement.

Speaking about the turbulent year and how she's found hope in community, she said: "It's about really trying to carry on with life when you don't know life is certain - and I know that's what a lot of people are going through.

"There are some people trying to put their life together because they have lost people and some people like me, people who are sick, and also just the uncertainty that we are all in.

"I am just trying to do what everyone else is really and trying to move forward, while every day trying to do the absolute best for Derek too."

Keep going Kate, you're doing great!

In other news, Kate praises ‘incredible mums’ during ‘most challenging year ever’ as husband Derek marks one year in hospital.

Also, read why Kate took an extended leave of absence on GMB.

And finally, read all the latest on Derek's heartbreaking battle.