The Strength of a Mother’s Love: Mum, The Hero of Our Everyday Life

When we are children, we take many things for granted. We have a home, a roof over our heads, food on the table, and someone to hold us when things get tough. But as we grow up and life brings us new experiences, we realise that not everything is given, and many things aren’t as they seem.

As a child, I had luck in misfortune. We didn’t have much – I wore clothes handed down from older siblings, and meals were made from whatever we had whenever we had something. Occasionally, we’d get a little treat, but we simply couldn’t afford to splurge. Winters were often harsh, and growing up in such conditions makes you tougher. It teaches you to appreciate what you have. Unfortunately, back then, I often blamed my mother for many things. I truly understood only when I had to live with her again as an adult.

It’s like reading the book The Little Prince as a child and then as an adult. Suddenly, things have an entirely different meaning.

Today, I see everything I didn’t see before. My mother is an absolutely amazing, strong, and fascinating woman, and I am incredibly lucky to have such a person in my life.

Not so long ago, I felt as if she wasn’t doing anything while I was trying so hard. But the problem wasn’t her – it was that I didn’t give her the chance. The strong, independent woman she raised me to be allowed her nothing. I was desperately trying to handle all my responsibilities at 120%: cooking, cleaning, being a great mother, a wonderful daughter, a friend, and a model employee. Alongside this, I was working on my writing projects, caring for two dogs who need walks at least twice a day, running, reading, horse riding, and attending my daughter’s school activities.

No one had the opportunity to help me because I wouldn’t let anyone. It was as if I didn’t realise there were only so many hours in a day. At the end of each day, I stood there, shattered and exhausted inside, yet smiling on the outside. I couldn’t admit, even to myself, that I couldn’t manage it all, that I was only human. Occasionally, I would complain to friends about how I was doing everything on my own and how my mum wasn’t able to lend a hand. But was I really on my own? Maybe it’s hard to lend a hand when someone doesn’t ask for help, and even appears to refuse it. It looked as if I could handle it all and was ‘perfect’.

But then certain changes came along—my ability to manage everything crumbled when my work projects began to require twice as much time. My mum was forced to stop working for health reasons.

Suddenly, the perfect world I had built collapsed. And my mother rose to the challenge in ways I hadn’t expected. She took on the cleaning, cooking, and many other duties. When I was too exhausted to get up in the morning, she took charge and got my daughter ready for school, just so I could have another thirty minutes of sleep. When she sees me glued to the computer, she brings food to my office and gently strokes my hair.

She is a magnificent woman!

After my father passed away, she was the brave one who tried to take care of everything. She has always been here for me, even if not always in the way I might have wanted or expected.

Despite her age and health issues, she helps me unconditionally, supports me, and is an absolutely extraordinary person in my life. I have learned to show her that I appreciate her. Every day, I kiss her, hug her, and tell her how much I love her! Every day, I am here for her, and I sincerely hope that I am and will be at least half as wonderful a mum as she is.

Sometimes, the problem lies within us, not others. How can people be there for us if we won’t let them?

Look at your mother, if you’re lucky enough to still have her. Love her and cherish her. One day, she won’t be here, and you will miss her deeply. She sacrificed so much for you, and much of it she’ll never admit because that’s what mothers do.

And you may not see eye to eye on everything, but try to see things from her perspective. Sometimes, a different approach makes all the difference.

If you have the chance, tell your parents how much they mean to you. They deserve to know that you love them and that they’re important to you.

-Anna Rajmon