“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in this world. It is the glorious life force…huge and scary. It’s an act of infinite optimism.” – Gilda Radner
THEY say motherhood could be blissful but is coupled with a lifetime ordeal. While giving birth to a new life is a phenomenal miracle that will eventually lead to executing motherhood responsibilities, it is simultaneously an inconceivable blessing with humanizing effect… then the wide-ranging role becomes way far immeasurable…unfathomable…and uncertain!
The turgid state of muliebrity is an accurate prelude to motherhood. This one concrete phase every woman is destined to end up to…although a few were regrettably deprived of even a single child. Ironically, those who could afford to raise more children had but a few while those which existence is merely hand-to-mouth were blessed with more than what they could support.
Such is the paradoxical essence of life!
But what really is the woman’s role? What initiated motherhood? What is the essence of being a woman?
The latter query was addressed to Sushmita Sen of India during the 1994 Miss Universe pageant held in Manila which she effortlessly nailed: “Just being a woman is God’s gift that all of must appreciate. The origin of a child is a mother…and is a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring, and loving is all about…and that is the essence of a woman!”
A bundle of emotions and heaps of responsibilities come with motherhood that defy every known reason and combat all possible impediments that she might encounter along her maternal journey. Tons of sacrifices and immeasurable abstemiousness await in the offing for every woman who enters motherhood.
Being a mother isn’t all about what a woman gives up to have a child but what she gained from having one. It has the greatest influence in every human life… and being a mother makes a woman a complete and fulfilled creation having had accomplished her role perfectly well.
For us to be enlightened on the truest essence of motherhood, we dared ask several women on their intrinsic views about being a mom and the responsibility that motherhood entails.
“A mother’s love is everlasting. It is perpetual and indefinite. It is boundless, limitless, and unconditional. From the time your child is born, a mother loves that child no matter what. A mother’s love is 24/7. She accepts humbly the responsibilities of motherhood, not only the joys but the challenges and sacrifices, as well. Motherhood is the nobles of all calling,” – Linda M. Mayo, 71, mother of a son, prominent community leader and PACCAL founder/Pres. Emeritus.
“The truest essence of womanhood is the bringing forth of my only child to this world. From her first heartbeat I was shown on the sonogram, to her first kick in my womb, until her first gasp of air… it was a journey we took together. And further on once the child was born, perfect or not, love overflows boundlessly. Unconditional. It was a thankless, tiresome task. But given another chance, I’m more than willing to undergo such ordeal for its rewards cannot be measured by anyone but only a mother,” – Mel C. Capinpin, Asst. Administrator, Philippine Consulate General, NY, mother of 1.
“What is a mother? Teaching is said to be the noblest profession but the noblest calling in the world is that of being a mother. A mother is one who can take the place of others in the life of a child because the moment a child is born the mother is also born… a place no one else could take. The mother is queen in that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of the kings or priests. Women never understood the role or responsibility of a mother until she becomes one. I did not.” – Lumen Castañeda, 80. Founder of UniFFiEd, PACCAL President.
“The greatest gift, for me, is the chance to be a mother. Being a mother of two (ages 19 & 22) gave me an unprecedented bliss. There is no greater joy than watching your children grow and become caring and responsible beings. It is my greatest accomplishment and unparalleled contribution to mankind.” – JoAnn Northgrave, 53, SHIP Coordinator, Hudson County Health & Human Services.
“Being a mother can be wonderful but coupled with despondencies. It is a lot of hard work to be a mother: from taking care of your children to preparing them to become law-abiding citizens. As a mother I dreamt for all my children to become professionals and established in their future. Now I thank God for all His blessings.” – Rose P Javier, 69, former PACCAL Pres., mother of 4 with 9 grandchildren.
“I’m a mother of two daughters with five grandkids. At the time you became a mother that job is your priority. You, as a person, become secondary. Your job is to protect them, teach them, and guide them to become responsible, smart, caring, and model adults so when they have their own families they will be able to pass on their teachings and customs to their own children.” – Maria J. Vila, 65, an immigration advocate from Spain and member of Harrison Board of Education.
“Being a mother is a special gift of a lifetime’s journey. The most fundamental element of being one is to love your children unconditionally…no matter what they say or do. Along with the title, ‘Mom,’ comes many other designations: that of being a teacher, moral compass, nurse, confidante, banker, driver, and a never-ending more. However, what I believe to be the most important part of being a mother is to be hands on to your children’s needs and motivate them to be the best that they could be.” – Jojie Babuschak, 53, mother of 4, Show Producer / JB Entertainment.
“For me, motherhood is a blessing… to be given a chance to unconditionally care for a child be it by blood or not. There’s consistently a maternal instinct in just being one. There is no known barometer to gauge how good a mother is but the love innately streams and fulfillment overflows just seeing a child feels being loved and secured. I always inculcate in their minds to respect others especially older people. Contentment is there in me having felt that I have made a difference in their lives.” – Irene C. Abaya-Campos, mother of 3,
“A mother is one special creation with a distinct legacy that is so unique and gratifying. God gives every mother enough clay to work her hands on and God-given capacity to mold a child for him to be God-fearing and a good son. For me, this blessing is second to none. My duties and responsibilities as a mother are virtually endless. Guiding the child grow toward righteousness and capably supporting him attain professional intensification more than offer a tenfold reward from everything a mother has toiled for.” – Dr. Elena Buenviaje, mother of 2, attending Physician at the Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ.
“Motherhood is the expression of natural instinct of a woman to nurture children, to care and protect them from harm and illness, to guide them in every stage of life, and to provide their basic needs. It essentially molds offsprings’ personalities and traits. It is that sagacious gift a woman granted with such must be proud of. Embracing a mother’s role is tantamount to being committed to a lifetime obligation with limitless possibilities.” – Dr. Alicia Sta. Maria Almendral, 41, Family Physician & Aesthetician, mother of 4, & Mrs. Philippines International 2013.
“Being a mother is a role that God has given to most women. The bible is clear about the values of children. Jesus loved them. We connect ourselves to God’s heart when we follow His heartthrob and what He desires for us to do: to love our children and bring them up in the nurture of the Lord. We are to imitate God just as He loves us and take pleasure in our children. We are to mold them by examples and teach them to adhere to the essence of godly living…’for children are gifts from the Lord!’ Psalm 127:3.” – Rev. Glenda Estrellado Gilliam, Assembly of God, mother of 4 based in Guam and Australia.
“Motherliness isn’t merely a way of life but a dedicated servitude committed to the upliftment and perpetuation of family values. It is a consummate status that calls for intensified perseverance in the rearing and guidance of her children. Being a mother is not just providing them sustenance but also security, not just according them with comfort but also of absolute love, and not just being their source of wisdom but their lifetime counselor and moral tutor.” – Joann Sy Bhatia, 48, Pharmaceutical entrepreneur, mother of 3.
They say that there is no exclusive school that teaches women to be great mothers but the intense calling to becoming one is instinctive and innate. It’s without doubt that when God created the first woman, He made sure that she would be equipped the capability to bear and rear her offsprings sans neither the necessary training nor patterned orientation. She was brought to earth to be the epitome of compassion, the archetype of tenderness, the paragon of sacrificial service, and the prime example of motherhood. These and much more of such worth-emulating traits were deeply embedded in every woman’s heart.
Allow me to close with a quotation mightily penned by an unknown author: “A woman’s most beautiful outfit is charisma, her prettiest accessory is her smile, her most fitting pair of heels is confidence, but her most enviable achievement is being a mother.”
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