A Mother’s Journey

Most women have an innate desire to be a mother, however, if God were to sit women down and ask each one of them: Do you really want to be a mother? And then he showed us all the energy, work, time, and patience that was needed to do the job most women would likely say: “… well God, hold on, let me think about this for a little while and I’ll get back to you.”  Being a mother requires an incredible amount of commitment, hard work, patience, and resources to do the job well.  Loving our children comes easily, we have plenty of love to give and it lasts beyond a lifetime, on the other hand, raising a child is very hard work.

This month my mother is turning 85 years old.  She had 5 children and her love and dedication for us was exemplary.  She faced many difficulties and challenges along the way but her perseverance and commitment to her family was unwavering.  She had to work full time to help provide an income for our family and she faced many hardships.  I remember, when we were young, many times she stayed up past midnight to make sure everything was taken care of for the next day.  She had a full-time job and 5 children to care of and she still found the time to make dresses for our dolls.  On weekends, we would often go on picnics, during the winter and summer, and she would again get up very early and prepare a delicious homemade picnic for us.  She worked tirelessly to make our lives special, and I am very grateful for all the energy and work she put into raising us.  I learned how to be a strong, loving, and resilient mother from my mother’s example.

My mother’s commitment continued as a grandmother and great-grandmother.  She was sometimes a bit too involved and that prompted my oldest son to say, respectfully, to her: “Abuelita (granny, in Spanish) I already have one mom, I don’t need two.”  Recently, my oldest grandchild was asked to bring someone special to his pre-school to teach them manners during teatime and he asked his Abuelita to come, and she felt very honored.

Motherhood is a journey that begins with love and ends with love.  The job is tough, but we are equipped to handle it with love and patience. We also learn along the way and receive the help and resources needed.

This month I want to encourage you to celebrate and honor your mother.  Let her know how much you appreciate her for the love she has given you and the commitment she has put into raising you and helping you become who you are today.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers we have around us!

Veronica Correa, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker, certified hypnotherapist and life coach.

To learn more about her work visit: www.thepersonalwellnesscenter.com

or call 410-742-6016