I am not a mother yet, but from what I have been exposed to in the past three decades, I understand that not every woman can be a mother.
I know someone would say, “Why should we praise a bird for flying?” but not every woman who carries a foetus to full term is a mother.
It takes a special type of woman to be able to take up the responsibility.
And this doesn’t have anything to do with age.
I recently had a conversation with a woman who is a mother to a two-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a rare disease.
She says she is a first-time mother and it was heart-breaking for her to learn that her newborn baby would have growth impairments.
I watched her as she patiently explained how difficult it is and how she has to be strong, accept reality and be there for her child.
I would like to take my hat off to all the women who hold the knife by the blade to protect, nurture and walk through fire to secure a better tomorrow for their children.
I salute the woman who wakes up in the wee hours of the morning to bake fat cakes to sell on a street corner to support their families.
I raise a high five to mothers who take the first morning bus/train in, come summer or winter, to go to work – all in a bid to put food on the table for their families.
I take my hat off to mothers who work double shifts to earn overtime, just so they can afford to buy their child’s school jersey so they will be warm in class.
These are the same women who would rather break a slice of bread for their children while they opt to drink water and brave their growling stomach.
I turn to wink and smile at the mother who took all her life savings to send her child to university because she believes in a brighter future for her children.
If it wasn’t for your strength and support, many leaders who came from nothing wouldn’t be where they are today.
I know you don’t get the recognition and applause regularly, but just so you know it, we see you and we appreciate your efforts and support.
