Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day and I'd like to pay tribute to all the women in my life. I am one of the fortunate few who can be referred to as ‘oniya pupo.’ It simply means that I have many mothers. At a time in my life, I could decide where to sleep, play or eat. You see, apart from having a mum, I had two grandmothers and a great- grandmother and many aunties who doubled as mothers. I grew up among strong women; women who understood their mission as women, wives and mothers. Today, I salute them all.

Today, I salute mothers in different categories; biological, adoptive, step, foster, single, in-law and mothers in waiting.  We often forget that it is not just the physical act of pregnancy that makes one a mother but playing the role of nurturing a life and of raising a child does too. Although some women have never experienced pregnancy or been in the labour room, they are mothers and without them many children’s lives would have been miserable.

I salute biological mothers. Nine months of carrying a life within you is no joke, with the morning, afternoon and evening sickness and all. Thank you for staying on the course and enduring it all for the prize of giving birth to your precious baby. Having the baby is just the beginning of the journey. I salute you, mothers, for the sleepless nights spent feeding a mouth that never seems satisfied enough to sleep; the time spent changing countless number of nappies and dancing to soundless music and songs that may never win Grammy awards or sell an album but keep on achieving great results where needed. 

I salute you mothers for going to school time and again. Some children needed more attention than others and mothers stayed up nights to ensure that homework got done and submitted. I salute mothers who stayed up waiting for teenage children, praying earnestly for God’s protection for their safe return home. I salute praying mothers often going hungry to supplicate God on their children’s behalf.

I salute mothers who do not see their children as excuses for not fulfilling their dreams, but as reasons to do so. I salute women who do all they can, to leave behind a legacy of hard work, generosity, industry and discipline. They engage in many ventures to ensure their children receive solid education and have a head start in life. 

I salute single mothers who walk the road of parenthood alone. They rise above rejection, divorce, the death of husbands at a young age, being the neglected wife and sometimes living in abject poverty to raise their children and carve niches for themselves at the same time.

I salute mothers-in-law who are changing the narrative that they exist to traumatize daughters-in-law. Thank you for raising strong, responsible God-fearing men and releasing them to us as husbands. Thank you for accepting women into your son’s life and stepping aside for the greater good.

I salute foster mothers who fill the gap of showering love on children at the most vulnerable times in their lives. I salute mothers with adopted children. Thank you for opening your hearts and homes to the precious children you have.

I salute Mothers- in -waiting. It is a harrowing experience to desire a child and have none. I believe your day is close by that God will grant you children biologically or otherwise. May your hearts and hands be full.

I salute all mothers. Sometimes the ones we pour our love on may not realise the sacrifice made for them but it is alright.  We are mothers and that is what we do-we love.

You rock. Mum!Happy Mother's Day. God bless us all. Have a blessed week ahead.

I Bi Dem.