The Strength of a Mother
“Many of us carry valuable lessons from our mothers that shape how we navigate the world, lessons that teach us how to endure, how to care and how to connect with others on a deeper level. Mothers play one of the most important roles in our lives, but their work is often overlooked or taken for granted.”
With Mother’s Day having just passed, we wanted to take a moment to talk about people who often don’t get enough credit: moms.
Many of us carry valuable lessons from our mothers that shape how we navigate the world, lessons that teach us how to endure, how to care and how to connect with others on a deeper level. Mothers play one of the most important roles in our lives, but their work is often overlooked or taken for granted.
Even before a child is born, mothers begin caring for their baby, preparing a safe and loving environment, eating healthy to provide essential nutrients, and bonding through songs or gently rubbing their belly. They attend countless doctor’s appointments, do hours of research on parenting, and make difficult sacrifices to protect their growing child. Many mothers also deal with emotional and physical changes, all while trying to stay calm and positive for the sake of their baby. They talk to their baby, introduce them to family and friends from the womb, and dream about the life their child will one day have. That kind of love starts early, long before a first cry is heard.
In the United States, there are more single mothers than single fathers in single-parent families. Specifically, approximately 80% of single-parent households are headed by a mother. While the number of single father households has increased over time, they still represent a smaller proportion of single-parent families.
Honestly it’s not surprising to hear about predominantly mothers running a single-parent household rather than a father.
Denisse:
As a Yale dropout once said, “But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life's blood, Lorelai Gilmore. My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be.”
Hearing this quote made me reflect on my own personal connection with my mother: Jaquelina Hernandez, the person who gave me life and shaped me into the person I am today. She’s also the reason why I truly believe kindness exists in the world.
Growing up in a Hispanic household, we were always taught that a father’s role was to be the man of the house, to go outside and work and provide. However, my mother constantly switched between playing the role of father and mother. My father was a hard worker, there’s no denying that, but compared to my mother, my father's work would finish the second he came home, my mother would come home from work only to continue to work.
Throughout the years, much of my mother’s time was spent worrying about my sister's skin condition and poor immune system. Despite the constant pressures she faced, or the fact that she rarely had time for herself, let alone eat a meal in peace, she always made time for me. Whether it was attending my games and screaming at me to not give up or picking me up from school to eat Mcdonald's together, she was always there. Her actions spoke louder than words could’ve ever and she never made me feel left out.
At some point she was carrying a weight that most people couldn't see, a heavymload, that people like myself would never understand. She made incredible sacrifices to ensure I had access to a better education than she ever had.
Due to her sacrifices I am able to stand here and not only prepare myself for my upcoming quest, college but also honor the fact that my mother gave up her own dreams so that i could have the chance to chase my own dreams.
Most people say they wanna be as strong as the hulk or even superman, but I want to be as strong as a mom. Being a mother has to be one of the toughest jobs known to mankind. and my mom is the embodiment of that strength.
Kristine:
From an early age, I remember my mom always saying how attached I was to her. As a baby, I would cry the moment she put me down after she was carrying me. Even well into elementary school, the start of every school year brought tears, I just didn’t want to leave her side. The connection I have with my mom is deep, anybody who saw me cry as a baby or a child could see it too. It wasn’t just a simple attachment, it was the embodiment of trust.
I’ve learned a lot from my mother on how to treat others. She has always been so concerned for others, always putting herself last. I often joked about her being a people pleaser. But the truth is, she has a real kind of empathy, one that allows her to truly feel what others feel. Many times I’ve witnessed her cry for others, fight for them and carry their pain as if it were her own.
Being a mother is no easy task and society often labels mothers as “too emotional” as if it’s something to be ashamed of and not a beautiful strength they wield. But that emotional depth is one of the most beautiful parts of motherhood. It allows them to love fully, sacrifice deeply, and show up in ways that many never truly understand.
Motherhood is truly a hardworking process, they’re with their children every step of the way until they’re ready to set off on their own. They’re able to give so much of themselves up in order for their children without expecting any type of thank you.