What does it mean to be ‘Mom’
Today is the day where we give special thanks to honor and celebrate the mothers in our lives.
Mothers provide unconditional love and extraordinary strength. They are our rocks in moments of crisis and our guiding lights when we need it most.
While rewarding, being a mother isn't always easy.
When a woman becomes pregnant, it is her responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment while her baby grows.
This responsibility continues once she becomes a mother, whether it's ensuring her child has a roof over their head to keeping monsters away at night and everything in between.
For Verlyncia Leonard, being a mother means to sacrifice your time, energy, and wants for your children to make sure they're equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make it as human beings.
“It means putting them before yourself without the recognition you might always want,” said Leonard. “As a mom, you have to do anything and everything in your being to protect, provide, and nurture your children so that they become respectful and responsible adults.”
For Lynsey Page, being a mother means to show unconditional love for the child by sacrificing your own wants and needs for their own wants and needs.
While difficult, she says it's rewarding nonetheless.
“Mom means being a selfless, loving person who must sacrifice many of your wants and needs for the wants and needs of your children,” said Page. “Being a mom is the hardest, most rewarding job a woman will ever experience.”
For some, being a mother means being there to teach your child important rules and roles of life, from being an empathetic human being to learning how to be responsible for one's actions.
For Courtney Jethroe, being a mother is “a selfless act,” which is what she learned from her mother and her experience being a mother.
“It means putting everyone before yourself, and showing unconditional love,” said Jethroe. “As a mom myself, I now understand the sacrifices my mom made, and appreciate her more now than ever.”