Mothers And Daughters

The 2017 Mother Conference is not just about mothers. The event is about mothers and daughters, and how they can deepen their connection with each other. A saying in Filipino goes like this: “Kayang tiisin ng anak ang kanyang magulang pero ‘di matitiis ng magulang ang kanyang anak.” To translate: A child can withstand their parent, but a parent can never withstand their child. It just goes to show that a parent, especially a mother, will love their child with no bounds or conditions, even if it hurts.

I believe for this to be true.

The teenager me was a rebel. Of course, one of the factors for that was growing up in a broken home. Some months, I was with my dad, and for some, I was with my mom, who lived in my grandparents’ home. So, we were all there. In a 300-sqm, 4-bedroom home, I was living with my mom and three siblings ( we were in one room, the master’s bedroom), my grandparents who transferred to the secondary guest room so they can give their big room for us, and my aunt who had two kids from different fathers – living in the basement.

I love my family, and I could not remember even one terrible moment with them, especially with my grandparents. But that was how I grew up. So many people at home and we were not focused on properly by our mom. She had to do what she needed to do, and that was to raise my siblings and me. My father was missing in action, and with that, no financial support. At thirty years old, my mom had to get brave, work three jobs so that we could go to school and eat three times a day.

Mom was tired all the time, and grumpy too. Of course, your husband left you, and you have three kids to raise without help from him. How she did it, as I think about it now, is beyond me, but she did, though it affected our relationship. We did not have it smooth, and right now, I do not want to play the blame game. But with family, it is never too late. And so, I asked her to come with me to the conference.

Strained relationships by mothers and daughters can be repaired. I believe for this to be true.