THE JOY OF A (SINGLE) MOTHER

They say the ultimate fulfillment of a woman is when she gives birth to her child. Most mothers would agree. Indeed, nothing can compare the joy of seeing your child, so tiny yet so perfect, as soon as he/she comes out of this world. Tears of joy will fall from your eyes. A feeling of fulfillment and surpassing love will overflow from your heart as you hold him close to you. Now you know, your life is complete.

The next stage will be the endless watching of “first moments”. First smile, first laugh, first turn, first tooth, first words, …… You immortalize those moments with pictures, including the first bath, first haircut, first step, first birthday…. Those firsts captured in pictures is nothing compared how it has been captured in our memories as a mother.

You haven't really savored the moments but soon you’ll find that your child is going into another stage. Being in school. Now you learn with your child as you teach them their lessons. You share their joy when they participate in school programs and contests. You feel proud how far they have gone since those days that they were totally helpless as a baby in your arms.

Before you know it, it's graduation day. Preschool. Elementary. High school. How fast time flies. Especially for single moms, who work to support the family and at the same time, be a loving mother who is always there for the children. Deep inside you, you wish you could go back and relive the days. But no amount of reminiscing will bring those days back. But the joy and happiness will forever be locked in your heart.

Last March, my son graduated from high school. As always, emotional scenes like that easily make tears cloud my eyes. As he received his certificate, I felt proud for I can truly say, “I made it …. all by myself.” I was able to send him and my daughter to a private school since preschool, just with the sheer determination of a mother who wants the best for her children. When I came up the stage to don his medal, he embraced me and handed me his certificate and said, “Ma, this is for you.” It was one of the most moving moments of my motherhood. A moment, though not captured in film, will forever be etched in my heart.

Five years from now, he will finish his Engineering course. I hope to be lent so much time to see and experience for myself another moment that I will cherish till my twilight days. But since I held my kids in my arms when they were babies yet, until this very moment, I have been trying to be the best mother and father I could be for them.

As I have always told them, I may not be the best mom, but I have always given them MY best. The precious and timeless gift of a mother’s love.

I'd like to greet my Mom, Mrs. Fabiana Comia, a Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for always being there for me. I love you.

To all mothers, Happy Mother’s Day!