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Mother’s Day: Joyful or Painful?

5/6/2021

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After my mother passed away in 1982, I found the Mother’s Day advertising on TV to be a painful reminder that I no longer had a mom to give a gift.  Now with email, the reminders show up in my In Box on a daily basis.  It seems that stores and nonprofits – including Dignity:Liberia - all have a Mothers’ Day message.  As painful as such messages used to be for me, I doubt it compares to that of a mother who has lost a child.
 
Most fistula survivors with whom I spoke have suffered stillbirth.  They carried their baby to term only to lose the child following a prolonged labor with questionable assistance from a birth attendant with no medical training.
 
A few years ago, people started wishing all women a happy Mother’s Day.  I felt that took away from all the moms who had gone through the highs and lows of raising a child.  I thought mothers deserved a special day of their own.  I’ve since reconsidered.  I have no children, yet many wonderful children have been in my life: nieces, nephews, children at church, and a number of first and second graders to whom I’ve been a reading buddy.  I imagine the children just want to show love and appreciation to those women who have assisted them along life’s journey.
 
We invite you to comment on this Facebook post with a picture of that special “mom” in your life – whether she’s your mother, daughter, or some other relation (or no relation) to you.  Tell us why she’s special.
 
We also ask that you make a donation to the construction of our maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, so that instead of a painful reminder, rural women in Liberia will have a joyful celebration of a special relationship on Mother’s Day.

Kathy Beth Stavinoha

Kathy Beth lives and works in Austin, TX.  She graduated from high school in Monrovia, Liberia in 1977.

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