Mother’s Day Special: Our Reporters honour motherhood
Our Orlando reporter Andile Maxopani reflects on the difficulties and triumphs of her journey as a young mom.
Being a young mother
Anyone can become pregnant but it takes a strong woman to be a mother.
Having a baby at a time when people least expected it is difficult. All the rejection from friends, family and the community becomes hard to bear.
Waking up to attend my classes was difficult because other people would tease me only because I was just a first year student who fell pregnant.
But I now had a vision and a reason for studying but a constant fear afraid that I would not be able to write my final exams.
I knew that no matter how hard my life would be after having a child I was among the blessed women on earth.
I knew that being a mother did not mean I had to spoil my baby or buy him expensive clothes. Only because my presence in his life would mean a lot to him.
For me being a young mother only meant I had to do anything possible to make my son happy.
I remember crying almost every day because I was afraid whether I would be able to love my son enough or to give him a warm family.
My eyes were flowing with tears when I first saw him taking his first steps and hearing him call me mama.
Although I spent days without seeing him there is that bond we had that always reminded him that I am his mother.
Today I am proud to say I am a mother and being there for him completes me.
To all the young mothers like me well done and happy mother’s day.
