Sunday, May 13, 2007

Celebration of Mothers

Today marks the celebration the women who endured the hardships of child development for nine months, the life-threatening event of birth, and the aging process of raising productive children. All the mothers in my life share with me so many treasures, I will not describe their strength well, but here is a try.

My friend Kelly will soon be a mama in July. Her friendship has been a lifeline through this past month and several years as some friends are lost in the shuffle of life. I am excited to see her new baby girl and new step for her. So Kelly, Happy Mother’s Day!


My friend Erin is raising a beautiful son, despite the loss of her husband while pregnant, finishing undergraduate and graduate school, and the daily juggling of her life’s passion (social work) and motherhood. I am so proud of her that I cannot express the surge in my chest when I tell people I know her. So Erin, Happy Mother’s Day!

Watching my mate’s family raise wonderful children who connect to their culture(s), I hope to have Tagalog-speaking, intelligent, community-supportive children like them. So to Chesca, Peggy, Charissa, Karen, Chari, Anne, Raff, and Viola...Happy Mother’s Day!

My sister Ana found her children, who also needed to find her. While motherhood tests her will, faith, and overall sanity, she is raising two fantastic young men. When I see how much they have adjusted and grown with her, I am proud to know her as my sister. We are all excited to have nephews as great and adventurous as them in our family. So Ana, Happy Mother’s Day!

My grandmother is an amazing individual who raised four children, has 22 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Every time I write or visit her, I am in awe at her strength and presence in our lives. So Grandma, Happy Mother’s Day!

My mate and I share a common bond of being in a large family. Ironically, both our mothers had several children in a short amount of time (his mother: 9 kids in 11 years; my mother 7 kids in 9 years), had us about the same time (around 30 years old), and placed us in the middle. I work with large numbers of students at once—children who need your every attention, emotion, and praise you can give them—and I respect these two women for raising 16 strong, healthy, intelligent, beautiful children without giving up (which I am sure they thought of at certain times). Even today, we call for advice and nurturing because we know they never let us flounder…just grow. I was supposed to be a mother today, but lost my child earlier this week. While the tears still fall from disappointment, the strength these women gave me (and all the women who gave me guidance through this difficult moment in my life) makes me excited that I am a woman and will be a mother in the future. Happy Mother’s Day!

5 comments:

exskindiver said...

your students are blessed to have such a teacher that showers attention, emotion and praise.

your (future) children are lucky that they will have a mother, a positive role model and a saint (ehem to ted) all rolled into one.

Jose Rizal said...

Gigi, I haven't met your mother yet but I sure can say this: she raised a beautiful daughter inside & out... Happy Future Mother's Day!

pulang-gubat said...

Dear Gigi:

You have said it again for all of us. You will be a mother, we know it, and you will raise up children, who in turn, will speak about you in in glowing terms, as you did today. We are all so proud of you.. all of us, your family, our family, and we are sure, all of your friends... You are indeed truly a very rare gem. God bless you.

Daddy and Mommy

Butrfly Garden said...

Gigi...Chesca asked if I'd been to see you lately. The truth is, I thought of you this week and planned to visit.

I am so very sorry for your loss. And to happen right before Mother's Day I'm sure made it so much harder.

I won't press too much seeing how you didn't say a lot about it, I don't know how much you'd want to talk to a stranger about it.

But if you would like to, my email is butrfly4404_garden@yahoo.com.

There are a number of websites I could refer you to that I found very supportive when I lost my daughter.

Again, I'm very, VERY sorry. I know Chesca was hoping I'd have something great to say, but I just don't. And in my experience words can make it hurt much more.

Wanderer said...

Thanks Butterfly Garden! I am doing just fine. I am a little relieved to have had the loss early to avoid too much attachment, but I still miss having it. While this was an unexpected pregnancy, we will try now since we really enjoyed planning for it!