Happy Mother’s Day to every mother who has ever lived. We honour you. This post is dedicated to my mother, who has built, raised and held this family together by herself for all these years.

By the end of my life cycle I will probably be able to name many women who have been ‘motherly figures’ to me throughout my life. Who have guided me, loved me, opened their homes, hearts and lives to me, just to see me grow. The woman you call mom didn’t necessarily have to give birth to you but regardless of your circumstance, on a day like today we honour all of these women who have and will continue to sacrifice, who they are and what they have so that we can have a better life.

It took me about 18 years to finally realize that, “a better life” was the intent my mother had for raising me. Harsh tones, strict rules and discipline were what I couldn’t see passed for awhile. Growing up people tell you “you’ll understand when you’re older” and that was the case for me. As you grow older, friendships start to get messy and dissolve faster than ever, you start to enter the “real world” where people don’t care too much if you burn yourself eating soup or go out with ashy hands and coal in your eyes. I grew up to finally learn that in every conflict, hard time and low point there were two things that remained constant, God of course and my mother. I never appreciated her input for most of my life because I had that bratty attitude which came with that one back-talk line “You just don’t understand me”.  To this day, I don’t listen to everything she says to me and our phone calls sometimes end shorter than they should but I’ve grown to realize  that there is nobody looking out for you more or better than your mother. You may not be able to see it right now to appreciate it but I hope you do before it’s too late. Show some honour to all the mothers in your life today.

All the single mothers
Now put your hands up!
A huge thank you to the single mothers, who I wouldn’t consider are playing both parts but who in my opinion are completely dominating at being the best mothers they can be.

Mother, you had and will forever have the responsibility of raising me but I will always have the responsibility of honouring you. Thank you for all you do.

A poem dedicated to my mother.

I wonder if she hears it in my voice
Can she sense my distress miles away
Even when I neglect her questions and redirect her attention
When I underplay my emotions
And distance myself from affection
Does my voice shake
Can she feel the tremble in my hands over the phone and reach out to hold me
Only to realize she’s alone
But, it scares her more to think I’m just as lonely
In the night when I wake in terror, do her nightmares mimic mine
She lies awake at night
Wondering if my pillow softly caresses my head                                                                         If my back, curves into my bed
She lies awake at night
Not knowing if tomorrow she can still love me alive
Tomorrow is only a day away but in that day
Her hand no longer guides me across crosswalks
Defends my misconduct
Feeds me
Clothes me
Leads me
Makes sacrifices to support me
Tomorrow is only a day away but in that day
This world can lead me astray
Grow me up faster than it took her to raise me
Day after day, I grew up without her permission
While she was latched to the feeling of awe watching my first steps
I soon began to run
Too fast for her to chase
Grew too big for her to carry
I’m sorry, that tomorrow came so early