I recently read an article from CNN titled “Let us now praise single moms,” and it really opened my eyes as well as inspired me to write. It made me look back and think about the sacrifices my mother has made for me to get where I am now.
With Christmas around the corner and Mother’s Day coming up, it’s time to show some love to both single and married mothers. Close to 24 million or a vast majority of American children under the age of 18, are living with a single parent, of those un-married households a mother is most commonly running the show. A trend growing since the 60s, the number of children raised by mostly single moms nearly doubled between 1968 and today.
Growing up with divorced parents, I can speak from experience that it was challenging during my younger years, not only to make friends but to fit in. Though my mother was and still is in my corner every step of the way, I was often teased or made fun of, kids would comment on my clothes or the quality of whatever kids talked about, usually something irrelevant. To which, I’ll admit, I was embarrassed as any child would be. It made me feel different when as we all know children want nothing more than to be like everyone else. Like most kids I wanted to be “normal” rather than different, often on separate occasions asking my mother “Why can’t we just be normal??” not yet old enough to understand the struggle my mother was going through both financially and emotionally.
Now realizing the character-building and self-improvement I’ve gained from being embarrassed by living with a single mother, I have never felt more pride towards my mother now happily re-married. Even as a kid, I saw her as a role model even when enduring bullying from my peers, and I never wanted to be like anyone more. My lifelong role model was and still is as smart, strong, and independent as ever. My goal for this article is not to inform others about my personal life but to show how much our mothers matter and can make a difference in our lives, coming from a fellow student. Of course not every household is perfect, but if I could encourage you, sending your mother a small text or even a call might go a long way. Mothers often have life experiences and wisdom that can help us navigate through daily life as well as personal challenges; their perspective can provide extremely valuable insight that sometimes our peers can’t replicate.
In conclusion, married and single mothers embody strength, resilience, and love as they help you navigate the challenges and successes of everyday life. Their dedication and commitment to providing for and nurturing their families deserve our admiration and respect. Let us continue to support and uplift the incredible women, honoring their behavior and sacrifice in shaping the next generation.
