Milika follows her mother’s footstep to overcome challenges
Milika Naulumatua could not thrive further with responsibilities and hardships without her mother’s guidance. A single mom of a 11-year-old daughter has a juggling motherhood and being a working mom was quite a rollercoaster for her.
Milika made a promise to herself to stay strong for her daughter and her mother.
She said she was inspired by her mother to own up challenges and become independent, after losing her father in 2015.
“Losing my father was one of the darkest days of my life. I made a promise to myself that I need to be strong for my mom and for my daughter who absolutely adores her grandfather,” Milika said.
Milika said she applauded her mother’s effort in raising her up in tough circumstances and setting good examples to her.
“The values and love she gave me is what I give my daughter. My mother had never made me feel like I am a single mother as she always loved me and her granddaughter the most,” she said.
Milika was also a staunch believer in the principles of the Assemblies of God Church, who attended all church related activities and basically church became my second home.
“I have dedicated my life to God and his blessings and love gives me the strength to become a spiritual mom too.”
She said being a mother was rewarding yet stressful and emotional exhausting.
She works in the Fiji Council of Social Services as the Communications and Training Officer.
She was also one of the candidates for the World of Difference Program funded by Vodafone ATH Fiji
Foundation.
“Being a mom is a blessing and I cherish those moments when I gave birth every day and I tell this story to my daughter all the time. Becoming a mom is worth all the pain in the labour ward,” she said.
She acknowledged the role of single mothers and also to single dads, who are playing roles as both a mom and a dad.
“For women, it is quite easy to adapt to roles but for men to play both roles has its challenges as well.”
“I wish that this Mother’s Day during the pandemic is a celebration of the motherhood status for single dads, for wives, for mothers, for fathers, for uncles, for aunts, for nieces and nephews and cousins and grandparents as these are the people who embodies motherhood,” Milika said.