What does your child’s name mean?

“His name is Alek Lesedi Opperman. Alek means ‘defender of man’ and Lesedi ‘light/illumination’.”

What did it mean to you to adopt Alek?

“When we didn’t fall pregnant, it was the natural alternative for us. Alek is our child, just as our friends’ biological children are their kids. The first page of our book just starts a bit different.”

What has parenthood taught you so far?

“I have learned to plan and to use my time more economically. Also to think about 10 things at once and to have octopus’s arms!”

Can you remember something funny that happened when Alek was really small?

“It was our second week with Alek. We slept very little. One morning, I grabbed two Allergex tablets to stop my sneezing. On the way to the bathroom, I realized it tasted funny. I went back to the desk drawer to see the package. I swallowed two Somnil sleeping tablets! It was 6 am in the morning, my husband was on his way to work and I was alone with Alek that day. I was a complete zombie!”

How many hours do you sleep per night?

“It’s better now. Alek is 19 months old and he goes to bed at 19:00. He sleeps till 05:30. I try to get to bed by 22:00, read a bit, switch of the light and then I normally get about seven hours.”

*Esther von Waltsleben is an actress and comedian, appearing in Die Republiek van Zoid-Afrika, Parys-Parys and Proesstraat.

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