"Will you please sleep now? No wonder why your body complains because it lacks rest." This is always the advice I hear from my mother and most of my responses are "Mom, I am sleeping at least five to six hours a night." Yet she answers "You need to sleep seven hours and give your eyes a break..." Constant reminders from my mother were irritating for me because it is a part of my responsibility to do my assigned task. One time, I replied, "Mom, calm down. I am already 21." There was a bit of silence from her and a moment later, she answered calmly, " Oh yes, you already graduated, you have a job and you know everything. However, you didn't experience to be a mother yet." That response from her penetrated into my chest and pinched my heart. I felt horrible on how I responded because I know I hurt her. I was giggling while trying to lighten the atmosphere. I wanted to suck the words back to my larynx however the impact of my short response already reached my mom's heart.
It is true that the over-protective nature of a mother sometimes annoyed a child; however, she is a mother and by the time she felt a life inside her, there is already a formation of a strong connection between her and the new life.This bond gives her happiness despite the hormonal changes she is encountering. Moreover, this intense connection is an irrevocable reason for her to evaluate the course of life of her child because she always wanted the best and she is willing to become selfless for her child .
To give us some clue on how selfless mothers are, let us travel back from the time they conceive.
First Trimester of Pregnancy
Couples of weeks past from the time an embryo started to form in a mother's uterus, she starts to suffer from various changes such change in body shape, weight, change in red blood cell counts, urinary tract infection, mood swing, choice of food, appetite, and hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness). Hyperemesis gravidarum leads to nausea and vomiting. While nausea and vomiting could cause weight loss and dehydration. This is the reason why they need health maintenance. There are those who are also experiencing uncontrolled hunger and thirst, repetitive urination and extreme tiredness which are the symptoms of gestational diabetes. Obesity could also happen and this is critical to the condition of the child and the mother so it is significant to monitor her weight, the diet, and the daily routine.
Second Trimester of Pregnancy
It is heart softening to see the smile and the excitement of a mother while she is feeling and observing the movement of the baby inside her however behind that smile, she is feeling a pain and itchiness in some part of her body. The skin on her cheeks, forehead and other start to darken while her uncles, fingers and face start to swell.
Third Trimester of Pregnancy
This is the period where a mother could feel a lot of discomfort such as baby dropping in the lower portion of her abdomen, shortness of breath, contraction, heartburn, and difficulty in sleeping. This is also the period where a mother starts to labor and feel excruciating pain before giving birth to her baby. If unfortunately, she can not bring out her child naturally, then she has to undergo cesarean delivery.
After Birth
After delivery, a mother begin to breastfeed and take good care of her baby, neglecting the tiredness and pain she is still feeling. She wakes up a lot of times at night to breastfeed and to change the diaper of her baby.
Being a mother is a lifetime commitment and a noble task. She is tired but she perceives her children as a part of her life so they are part of every decision she makes. She sacrifices a lot and are willing and ready to face changes and challenges that she will soon encounter just to protect and show her love to her child.
We sometimes misinterpret them, yet they need a total understanding and love from us, their children. They are always there for us and we must always be with them also. There might be things that they fail to comprehend from us as we are to them, but we must learn how to show or tell them what we wanted and what we must do without hurting them. They treated us as a gift for them so they treasured us. They are also a gift for us to treasure.