The Bitter Sweetness Of Motherhood

I got a text message on Sunday right out of church that a colleague of mine had put to bed. The text read ‘thank God, our little angel has arrived’. To say I was elated was an understatement as I was relieved (on her behalf), that the journey of nine months had come to a beautiful and productive end. Pardon me! Did I just refer to the journey like that? It was the journey of nine long, inexplicable, incomparable, joyful, painful, unbearable months.
I called her immediately to congratulate her, I quickly said a prayer or two for the baby and that was it, I hung up. I can imagine she would have gotten more calls, visits, gifts, prayers, words of advice from the experienced and also the not so experienced mothers.
On getting home, I started out preparing for the week and it struck me that ‘really, with my colleague, that was it, a call, text, thought, prayer, and gift’. No one can really prepare you for motherhood, no one will tell you about all the sleepless nights, no one can really make you understand the times you have to try after another failed attempt to find out what is wrong with your bundle of joy, no one prepares you for those times when you will have to wait up all night rocking this baby while your husband sleeps because he has to work tomorrow, no one can make you understand how painful lactating can be for the first time, no one truly prepares you. Yet! Words alone cannot express how much joy you’d feel when your child smiles at you, trust me no matter the amount of training you receive, you can’t imagine how joyful you will be when this child of yours says the word ‘mummy’, no one can prepare you for the happiness that comes with seeing your child take his/her first baby steps, no one can express how excited you’d be when you dress your child up for school for the first day, no one explains how proud you’d be when this little child graduates from the university or gets a job, how can another mother tell you how happy she was on the wedding day of her child, Oh! The joy and fulfillment that comes with seeing your grandchild from this little child you gave birth to only a ‘few’ years ago.…
Trust me, being

a mother is a lifelong job that often times, we don’t get praised for. However, I’m writing this piece to tell you how wonderful you are, how adorable you are, how graceful you are. That you held on for nine months, due to the rigors of the first trimester, the morning sickness, the throwing up, the pains, not one person can truly appreciate you for what you’re doing and how much effort you’re putting into your child.

Hence, this write up goes out to all mothers, words cannot express how much you’re worth; you’re such a precious and priceless jewel.
Keep keeping on,
Lotaluv,

FolaShade

21 thoughts on “The Bitter Sweetness Of Motherhood”

  1. Hmmm women can sha praise themselves.
    No one gets to congratulate the man for a job welldone. Just like the lizard dat fell from the tree without recieving any commendation,we won't fell to appreciate our efforts at helping God in this work of creation.

    ~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA3310

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  2. Bona lol..would you like to swap places like be in the Labour room for day maybe you will understand that Women are actually superhuman what the man does trust me is just about 10% of the work believe me..

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  3. Thanks Folashade! Can't just wait to settle down and start popping out my kids to by God's grace.
    Adeyanju

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  4. Barino I wish u dint comment u almost ruined it 4 me. As a man u will never understand wot women go tru u can't handle it I put it to u!

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  5. Being a mother is such a thankless job. But i still appreciate my mum everyday by thanking her for the things she still does for me.

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  6. Thank you Folashade. Being a mother is like having 10 full-time jobs and very demanding. However I love it and do not regret any aspect of it.
    To all mothers and mothers to be please Keep up the good work and NEVER give up on your children.

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  7. True that! But sometimes U learn 4rm d experiences of other women by just being around them, I can remember wen my sister had her 1st child, wat I went thru the 1st few wks made me appreciate a lot, even now I draw closer 2 my EDD not a day goes by I dnt look @ d calender, counting possible days, cos I can't wait 4 this phase 2 be over, and then the tots of wat I went thru after my niece was born, makes me realise, this 'phase' isn't really comin 2 an end anytime soon, I still have a child 2 raise, more sleepless nites, the worries, fears and concerns that comes with it, the pain, endurance n patience U wud hav 2 exibit…it is not easy raising a child…but d tin is ur not d 1st, neither wud U be the last…Mothers were built to be Mothers. Even though I'm not yet one, I already appreciate motherhood, and it pains me wen I see children treat their mothers anyhow.

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  8. That's just it. Hmm motherhood, where do I begin. All the advice people gave went down the drain during labour. I forgot the breathing exercises and my mother was just there following me up and down the hospital corridors. That woman is an angel. Men will never understand. The sleepless nights, worries when your child gets sick or couldn't sleep cos of stuffy nose. Now I know what my mother did for me and I thank God that I've never given her any cause to be sad. I pray that my Children will also recognise that I am a jewel of inestimable value.

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  9. Oh Bona, who says we don't appreciate hubsters'(great ones tho) efforts, ofcourse we do. The unsaid panic that accompanies each health complaint; the fear of labour ( will she make it alive?), the struggle of trying to be a great(loving and providing) dad and lots more.
    However, only a mother can understand what it truly means to go through that 9months(talk about walking on thorns but believing you won't be hurt). The day I fully read about the oestrogen and estrogen reactions in a pregnant woman, I did wish I never felt bad years ago when my Aunt did behave funny while preggers. Imagine being given a precious gift and you have 9 solid months to wait before you can feel/ have it. To me, pushing out the baby is less work compared to the emotional journey combined together.
    GOD BLESS ALL MOTHERS(EVEN IF YOU ARE TTCing) and the fathers too(before Mazi Bona go chop my ear)
    Dio domenica amici miei, dormi bene

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  10. The man remains the chairman…

    Kudos to all the men worldwide for producing quality spermatozoa!

    Kudos to all the fathers for their role in science and tech.

    Kudos to all the men for their zeal, hardwork and tolerance of eve!

    Kudos to the men who bear a woman and a nations wahala with bottles of beer!

    Kudos to me!

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  11. I love my mom with everything in me. Everyday I appreciate her more. Everyday the sacrifices she made and still makes amazes me.
    She's super human and my jewel of inestimable value. #my back bone, my confidant, my best friend, my all in all.
    I'll catch a million grenades for my mom.
    **Sexy Lawyer**

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  12. I love my mom with everything in me. Everyday I appreciate her more. Everyday the sacrifices she made and still makes amazes me.
    She's super human and my jewel of inestimable value. #my back bone, my confidant, my best friend, my all in all.
    I'll catch a million grenades for my mom.
    **Sexy Lawyer**

    Reply
  13. Hello Fola, this post brought candid tears to my eyes. I'm presently pregnant with my second baby after 6 years. My dear the pains I feel in my pelvic is inexplicable and I'm just a few weeks Into d 2nd trimester. my gynae said I'm secreting relaxin (not sure of d spelling) it's a hormone secreted towards d end of the last trimester. that explains the pain. My anger is hubby has no clue about what I'm going through, turning over on the bed, sitting, standing or walkin is an herculean task for me no one knows what I'm going through but God, not to mention driving to and fro the traffic everyday of the week to work in lagos ; it is not easy to be a working class pregnant woman . I thought hubby would be supportive n caring like he said he would , I know he loves me but this pregnancy is really an eye opener. My only joy is that I will be a mother soon and will give someone d opportunity of coming into d world. Being preggers is Interesting only when u r dotted on and if hubby is caring n supportive. My shout out goes to every mommy in da house. More grease to our effort. Love y'all. Mwaaaaaaaah.

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  14. Sweetheart you're such a jewel of inestimable value. I know that no 2 pregnancies are the same but look on the bright side. You cannot go through the 1st trimester again with the baby you carry.
    With regards to your hubby, trust me he is a wonderful man a man of valor just because he is your hubby. You got married to him and God blessed that marriage. Sweetheart these our men can be babies’ ehn, chances are that he can’t stand you going through that much pain and he hurts as well. I know you hurt the more but just what if he can’t express his hurt to you. That he loves you is so unquestionable. May I suggest you call him and talk to him about this? You’d be happy you did. Meanwhile, abeg call us for the naming oh. Congratulations in advance love. I can imagine such joy you’d feel after delivery and your baby is given to you.
    Truck load of hugs dear…
    FolaShade

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  15. Dear Folashade,thank u so very much for your inspiring response. Like u said his love for me isn't questionable, I maybe I'm expecting too much from him. Yeah I believe all this feeling will soon be a thing of the past when my beloved baby arrives. As for the christening will surely invite u my dearest new friend. God bless u dear u sound so kind n motherly. Keep it up…. Hugs

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  16. Dear folashade thank u for this insightful post. I love my mother so much and I apriciate her everyday. She is the best as far as am concerned. Meanwhile this date 25th october was even her birthday… May God kip her alive for us. Amen.

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