Women are the unsung heroes of the society. Their roles goes beyond being natural care-givers and homemakers. It includes all the untold sacrifices she makes throughout her lifetime. The feminine gender has a very dynamic nature, from the journey of a young girl trying to fit into the society, to a wife and a mother who fights to raise her kids and build her home all by herself.
I grew up watching my mom take care of all of us in the family, to the cost of her own comfort sometimes and I didn't really think it as a big deal because I thought that what all mothers do in the family. They put their needs aside while tending to the cares of the family. I started appreciating her more when I started making my own little sacrifices for my loved ones.
The first sacrifice I remember making was going to stay with my aunt when she needed some help around the home as she was aged and alone. I was barely thirteen years of age and I just got into junior high school then. She was in her seventies and had to deal with some health challenges, diabetes to be precise. I was meant to stay with her for the weekend I visited until her grandchildren came back from a trip they had gone at that time. Well, as things may have it, that weekend turned into a several months and I ended up living with for six years until I completed my high schooling. It wasn't very easy for me to cope with her when considering her age and health.
I was in my teens and naturally I would want all the freedom in the world as every other teen out there would. I wanted to have fun and do a lot of other interesting activities like hanging outdoors with my friends and the likes of it. Sometimes I can't do all that the way I would love to, especially hanging out with my friends. I knew I was the only company she had, so I always had limited outdoor moments in order to come back and take care of her. There were times when she had health emergencies that needed me to accompany her to the hospital while letting go of whatever personal plans I had for the day.There were times it costed me a warm, cozy, night rest just to be awake with her when she couldn't sleep so well. These are just a few of the sacrifices I made before I finally left her after my high schooling.
I came back home and was really excited in acquiring a skill in hair braiding and styling. I found just the perfect salon to achieved that goal and I started working as an intern. Few months into my internship, my mom fell sick and she was admitted into a hospital, which she stayed for two months.
Throughout that time, I paused my internship because I was the one staying at the hospital with her and taking care of her till she was discharged. Even after she was discharged, I had to start managing her textile business until she was strong enough to get back up.
I was ever ready to get back to my internship after that ordeal when my immediate elder sister who was heavily pregnant at that time pleaded that I come over and stay with her till she delivers. I couldn't say since I was at the disposal to help. It was a really big move for me.
Leaving Nigeria for Cameroon wasn't a piece of cake. I was leaving a whole lot of things behind, my work, my friends, my whole life, to a completely new environment I was going to try to fit in. I stayed a whole year with her after she delivered before I made my way back home again.
Thinking back to those times, it feels like my life was scripted. I was to give up certain things simultaneously at one point in time for the people I love. I don't regret those moments where I put family first before my own needs. It has shaped me to become the better woman I am today. To all my ladies out there, I hope you get appreciated for all the unsaid sacrifices you've made for the ones you love.