I always wondered how it is that children come out of women after a period of swollen belly, but I got to understand when my mum birthed my brother. We had slept together the previous night but woke up to see that she had disappeared. I came back from school to meet a bouncing baby boy, and there was my mum looking all tired. With my tiny hands, I hugged her even though I didn’t understand why I did, but I knew I was super excited to finally have a brother. I thought it was going to be the same for all mothers, but I learned as an adult that there are differences.
My friend was forty weeks gone, and we all anticipated the arrival of our baby. Few minutes in, there was a situation, and she had to choose between saving herself or her baby. Oh, she cried and tried. It was her first time, and it wasn’t expected to turn this way. She wanted to save the baby as the warrior that she is, but she knew she couldn’t be there to take care of her as she had wished. So, she had to let go so that she would be there for her other princes and princesses, and now she’s back living as a woman and a mother to her unborn children.
The dad couldn’t do much but scream ‘please, save my wife’. He had to be strong for them both even though he was in pain. He had anticipated being a father to their beautiful princess and had made sure things were rightly placed before her arrival, but she arrived and left almost immediately without getting to see the face of her dad.
One of my big sisters suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that had to be evacuated in an emergency surgery, but she wasn’t even strong enough to cry for her baby because she was in severe pain. I had a close friend died during childbirth, and all I can say is that the real definition of Mothers is STRENGTH. If Mother’s Day is celebrated every day of the week, then it is worth it.
Not many women get to share their stories of their motherhood journey. Many have cried, went through miscarriages, child losses, countless IVFs, and continue to actively carry out their responsibilities as a wife and boss as if everything is perfect. That is why we must be kind to all the women we know and meet. Tomorrow is another day to resist the urge to ask women when they’re giving birth or when they’re trying again because you don’t know their story.
Dear Woman, you are strong. You are a brave, compassionate, nurturing, loving and simply special being, so please be kind to yourself, now and always. To the mothers who lost their babies, Happy Mother’s Day to you. To the trying mums, Happy Mother's Day to you. To the Mothers who raised us and to the ones that are currently raising champs, Happy Mother's Day to you.
This is my entry to #inleo may prompt with the topic Mother’s Day, Parents, grandparents and role figures. You can also join here @leogrowth/re-leothreads-32frw54cr
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