Mother's Day Reflections

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and for me, this day is bittersweet. While I am now a mother myself, the journey to this point was not an easy one. I suffered a miscarriage before having my child, and the memory of that loss still lingers. Mother's Day can be a difficult reminder of what could have been, but it's also a celebration of what I have. Before I had my child, Mother's Day was especially tough. I wasn't close with my own mother. I also remember one Mother's Day when I was a few months pregnant with my baby bat. It was a conflicting day for me, as I felt filled with both hope and heartbreak. 

However, despite the difficulties, I have been blessed with an important maternal figure in my life: my sister Nancey. She has always gone above and beyond what an ordinary big sister should do. When I was struggling with my homework, she sat with me and helped me. Whenever I eagerly brought home the Scholastic Book flyer, I knew Nancey was the lady to suck up to! Not only did she buy books for herself, but she also bought me any book I wanted from that flyer. Trust me, there were many!!!! When she had kids of her own, I was old enough to babysit, and while I am these kids' aunt, Nancey always treated me like one of her own. When things got tough at home, Nancey's door was always open to me and I had a safe place to stay for a couple of days. I remember crying on my sister's shoulder when things got tough and to this day, I know she is only a phone call away if I need something. She also introduced me to some of my favourite movies such as Goonies and The Neverending Story. To this day, I can recognise Kenny Rogers' voice and whenever I hear Air Supply playing on a radio somewhere, I think of home, I think of Nancey. 

 Sometimes it is not always the woman who gives birth to you who deserves celebrating, it is the strong women who are there for us even when things fall apart for them. It is the women like Nancey who tucked us in, who celebrated our accomplishments and were there for us when we thought no one else will be. It is the women like Nancey whom we wouldnt be the strong, amazing women we are today.