“One more contraction and a push madam, and your little princess will be out”. That is how this sweet midwife, Grace helped them from the antenatal right up to birth. And in no time, the new born baby Ashley rested in Lucy’s arms. Gazing upon her tiny face, she felt an overwhelming sense of love and responsibility. And as she looked into Ashley’s eyes, she saw a spark of light, a promise of potential and greatness.
But, as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Lucy began to worry. She struggled to balance her own needs with Ashley’s demands. Sleepless nights and endless diaper changes took their toll. Lucy felt like she was losing herself in the process of raising her child, especially now that the thorns came out as fast as beauty of the roses was seen. The pockets’ emptiness funny enough didn’t make her to lose her joy over her new born.
Yes, Lucy is always elated when she thinks about her pride, Princess Ash as she would call her. To Lucy, Ashley is her light, the only treasure she holds dear, and the one person who will always gift her with warm smiles. As she struggled between working to pay bills, taking care of Ash, and Ken her husband running lots of makeshift jobs, therefore not earning so much for a standard living, they wondered if they’d ever survive life at this pace because all of this was more demanding than she had ever prepared for.
“Pray for the best and prepare for the worst”, this phrase served as a constant reminder that the ever demanding traits of children don’t end so soon, beginning with Ash starting school. They thought they had all this “raising a child” stuff figured out, they read books, went for seminars on parenting, even tried to open a savings account for their children, but just one child and all their balance seems to slip away. Regardless, they hoped, prayed and prepared for the worst.
Lucy’s eyes always shone with hope and dreams for her children’s future, reflecting her aspirations for their happiness, success and fulfillment. Her child, Ashley was the light, a source of inspiration and motivation, and she knew that once she could succeed in this adventure with Ash, she’d be able to do it better for the rest of her kids. To Lucy, her womanhood, purpose and passion had just begun, she is a mother!
Phew… all I did was have a child, I didn’t commit a crime, why is it this draining? Well…
This was what she’d think to herself almost everyday, but by the time she’d get home, just merely watching Ashley grab her fingers with her little hand, sleep, laugh and do her thing, made her erase those thoughts and think, “I’d do this over and over as long as I’d keep getting this peace, love and joy I feel when I look at my baby time and again.” Lucy, had heard so many times, “motherhood was joyful”. She was going to live fearlessly in that joy, the joy of having Ash, and supporting Ken her husband to build their dream life. Despite the fate they had met at the time, the deep bond she shared with her little princess kept her going. Ashley is her world now, and she can do anything to help her become the best of what she can be.
Although she loved Ash more than anything else, she came to a realisation that true light, the one she’d use to guide her children, came from finding herself too. In the guise of parenting, she discovered that she was about to make the same mistake her parents made. Get drowned in taking care of the child that they failed to take care of themselves, which in turn left them bitter and uncomfortable to grow up with. So down with repeating patterns, and up with embracing self discovery and development.
Slowly, she found a way to compromise. “A little time for myself won’t be bad”, the voice in her head whispered. So, she began to discover which hobbies she liked, and invest in herself during her alone time which was so precious. She would be the mother for her kids, they would be the parents for them, and she would be the woman for her self. You know how you teach from doing? She was going to live it all along. She knew she could make buddies out of her kids, and that, she was going to do. She would live as one who inspired hope in their hearts and taught them to dream without limitations. She was not going to get lost anymore. A woman admired by her peers, a wife to her husband, a mirror to her children. There were days when she thought about her decisions, and even wanted to give up, but those innocent stares, incoherent whispers and soft giggles were all it took to wear her helmet of action, and boots of determination.
Now, taking a trip down memory lane, her eyes sparkle with nostalgia and fond memories of the very days when all was bleak, and she was saddled with despair. But, her children’s milestones, achievements and special moments are all she can see with teary eyes as she scanned through the photo album. She remembered when she put her house in order by whispering prayers as she took every step. She knew that a miracle would happen one day, when her children would stand on world platforms and dedicate their successes to mama. Her eyes will be wet, and the tap of tears would be released, but, she promised herself then that she would work till the end just to see that day, to have all that dedicated to her name.
And though her dream is slowly coming to reality, she prides in the fact that she’s taking notable steps towards both training her children, keeping her home and being a boss. Her husband isn’t lazy, but he has just lost his balance for a while, and she totally understands that despite the demands of life, she does it all for her children who will forever be products of their love and hope for the best to come.
It was now that season, Ash is graduating college, and has a thriving business already, Travis her once very little boy is entering his dream college on a scholarship. Her children are now grown and on a sure path to success, and that’s all she could’ve hoped for. Ever since they were little, they didn’t fail to light up whatever room they walked into. They’ve proven to her that her efforts were never a waste, they were worth all her while, they never stopped being the stars in their skies, and they never stopped lighting up lives.
OW Collaborative Writing Exercise. (May, 2025).
This piece was written in honour of the Mother’s and Children all over the globe to commemorate our Mother’s and Children’s Day celebrations which occurred this month.
Your presence makes the world radiant, lovely, and colourful. Keep shining brighter as you journey through life and make the world a better place for all of us.
Happy Mother’s and Children’s Day from all of us at Oparawhyte.
🥰🥳💜
