YOUNG mother-of-four Marylou Drew would be lost without the support of her own mum.

The 31-year-old single parent lives in Wonga, is juggling full-time work and has kids attending separate schools in Mossman and Port Douglas.

She also volunteers at every home game for the Port Douglas Crocs, where one of her sons plays in the under 8s.

How does she manage?

“I have a super mum,” Marylou said.

Marylou’s two youngest children Zahara (eight) and Aaron (six) attend Port Douglas State School and live with their grandmother, Colleen, in town during the week.

It eases the pressure on her daily 90-minute round trip from Wonga, and getting her eldest kids Zakk (14) and Annalese (12) off to Mossman High.

“I love my mum and I couldn’t live without her,” Marylou said ahead of Mother's Day tomorrow.

“She helps me with my kids, which I really need. Having two at school at different schools when you live in Wonga can be tough.

“Aaron also has footy training in Port Douglas starting at 4pm and I don’t finish work until 4.30pm, so knowing mum is there is such a relief.

“I work on very little sleep, lots of coffee, and I’m basically buggered by the end of the week. I don’t know how I’d manage if it wasn’t for mum.”

Colleen, 65, moved to Port Douglas from Bowen with her then husband Les in 1989.

They lived on their boat at the Marina with children Dwayne, Joseph, Bruce and Marylou, the latter fondly recalling cruising across the inlet on her dingy ‘Barbie’.

The proud grandmother knows just how hard it is raising four young children, and cherishes the extra time she gets with her grandkids.

“I just love looking after them,” she said.

“I get them off to school and pick them up, so we do a lot of things together and it’s such precious time.

“They are beautiful kids and Marylou is doing a wonderful job. She’s just as beautiful.”

Marylou works for The Nicnak Shed at the Port Douglas Neighborhood Centre, where her mum has also worked.

“I go to work to get some stress free time,” she said. 

“I’ve got a lot of friends here and all the girls are really great, and then I can go home and see my kids with a clear head.”

Today will be just the second time in six year’s Marylou won’t be volunteering on the gate for the local AFL team. Instead, she'll be taking her mum to the Pink in the Tropics champagne breakfast this morning for Mother’s Day, to be held at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Resort, before enjoying a special function watching her beloved Port Douglas Crocs.

“Every day is mother’s day for my mum because she just means the world to me,” she said.

“But I especially like to do something for her on mother’s day so we’re going to have a good day out.”

A well deserved treat for two super mums.