W
hile many mothers take a day off from cooking today because it is Mother’s Day, mother of three Luisa Vakatawabai is not. Her mother is coming over.
The 41-year-old widow will be assisted by two teenage children but not her first born, he is sickly.
Soon after midday on Friday, her harvest was all sold at the Suva market. She headed to Max-Val-U supermarket to do her Mother’s Day shopping.
She is from Nabukaluka village in Waimaro, Naitasiri. Her husband passed away in 2014.
“My husband was a farmer and I used to come to the Suva Market every week to sell. It has been hard since he passed away. I have to be strong for our children,” Ms Vakatawabai said.
“Playing the role of a father and mother is not an easy task, God’s providence makes things lighter,” she said.
“My eldest is 19; he stays home because he is sickly and my other two children attend secondary school. “As a mother I want the best for my children and no matter how tough life gets I will never give up. “Sometimes it gets so hard that I want to give up but my children are the reason I am still strong.” Ms Vakatawabai is celebrating Mother’s Day with her mother and children.
“As a mother every day is Mother’s Day because I get to spend it with my children. Being a mother is a blessing from God,” she said. “I will be celebrating Mother’s Day with my mother with my children.
“I have sold all my produce and was able to get $150. I only sell at the
Suva market on Fridays. “Sometimes life may seem unbearable that you want to give up but what I want to tell you, don’t give up because behind the struggles there is always something good.
“Always put God first in everything that you do and always do your work diligently because your children look up to you.”