"A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's.", says Diana, Princess of Wales.

It is so easy to read but hard to understand. I learned how it means just recently when I took the shoes of motherhood.

Mother, Mommy, Ma, and Nay (Filipino term)….  It sounds so sweet but doing the role of motherhood is not an ordinary one.

My mother is beautiful, jolly, lovely, fair, kindhearted, amazing! Wondrous, understanding and patient! Upon writing this, I am still unable to find a noun, an adjective or an expression which could possibly entail what she is and what she means to me. I used to ask myself how to be a mother like her.

From the start, I was a challenge to her, an obstacle course that she played to. From my teenage tantrums until I became a mother like her, she watched me over. How caring she was! I totally missed those days when I just sat down and relaxed when I went home. Everything was set from breakfast, lunch and dinner without worries for tomorrow.

My childhood memories with my mother bring smile to my face. Why did I say that? She was always nagging about everything in the house!  She was tied up all day till night in a mini restaurant in our town. So at the end of the day, she was so tired for other chores at home.

“Rosmin, were you able to wash your clothes?”

“How about the task at the backyard, was it done?”

I just answered her with yes and no then I continued in listening to my favorite band over the radio.

“Oh, by the way, I brought you your favorite pizza. Come and take it!”

 That was the only time I had to get up.  After a few minutes of eating, I would notice that her eyes were closed and lips were opened as she snored. She took her rest in a minute!

This is one among many instances when I saw her sacrifices not just for me but for my two brothers too. One time, I went to school unprepared. I wore my school uniform and let my skirt unhook. My teacher called me to write my answer on the board. While I was busy writing, my skirt fell on the floor! I heard my classmates laughing out loud! It was so disgusting. I blame my mother for my shame.  So I went to her restaurant to blame her. But I never had a chance to speak because I saw her rushing to hold a big hot pan and washed it by her bare hands. Everybody in the store was so busy so I just waved my hand to her and told her that I had to go home.

That night while I was asleep, I felt her hands so rough on my head and uttered, “Child, I am so sorry. I love you.”

My mom is an instrument why I was brought into life. She rocked me, fed me, educated me, and accompanied me through thick and thin. I am a successful teacher because you taught me how to read, write and listen by heart. She was the only one who saw in me treasures that I did not know. She is my best teacher because of teaching me that the only truth is perseverance, and failures are just a step towards my future victories. No one compares to her as my best friend, my confidante, and the person to whom I turn when life seems so unfair. I am standing with proud with humility, calmness and consistency that she taught me. Though she did not have a degree in education, she was the one who educated me with practical life lessons.

I grew up with a complete touch of love from my mother until I got married. I really wondered why she had to scream before the wedding on 2003. Now I knew why she felt that way. I was still a baby for her even at the age of 23.

Cooking foods, doing the laundry, cleaning the house and all other household chores are those basic trainings that I never taught will be my tools in my marriage life. Not to mention how she served my father wholeheartedly at home. She was so amazing for being so responsible in doing all her tasks as a mother and wife.

Now, even though my mother has not been with me through the hardest moments in my life, and while she is living far away from me now, these words will never be erased from my mind. She still holds me while I cry over a toy; she tuck me in on the nights I feel alone; and she soars through my mind to lift me up again in times of sorrow.

Now I am still discovering the real meaning of motherhood. It is more than morning sickness, nausea, stretch marks, extra pounds, healthy diet, contractions and the arrival of a healthy baby. It is better than those physical signs. It is merely engaging love, tenderness, care, concern, acceptance, patience sacrifice. That is nothing new. Those are well known ingredients of motherhood.  I supposed, a mother is like a walking encyclopedia. My children expect me to know why there is flowing water in the river, why the flowers bloom and how they become a baby. I am an instant dentist who can remove my son’s teeth painlessly, stop an earache in the middle of the night, and a stage mom before a speech recital. Now, I am a person who gives nothing for my own self but for my two kids.

My five year old son once asked me when we were about to cross the street. He asked me as I held his hands, “ Mom, why are your hands not soft as mine?”.

I smiled at him and said, “Darling, they are not soft because I used them to show my love for you .”

Though I am still learning to be a mother, she reminds me that, "Remember that behind every successful woman is a basket of dirty laundry." It does not really matter how successful we are in our profession. What really matters is how successful we are as a mother.

I have written a poem for her to let her know how important she is in my life.

         My Mother, My Hero

The early years of my childhood

Her love and care were full

She spent quality time with me

She is a friend or even a buddy.

She took responsibility

Gave moral guidance for me

Showed compassion and gentleness

Firm with discipline anywhere.

Someone who is there when I need her

Who puts my needs above hers

                Her love to me is unmatched.

A good listener at all times.

A helper through negative circumstances

A remedy for my weaknesses

Have a never ending responsibility

A model in showing love for my family.

My mother is noble

I worry not at all

My mother is a hero

That is why I love her so.

For you “Nay”, I know motherhood is tough 24 hour job; no pay, no day off, sometimes it is unappreciated, but yet quitting is impossible. A mother is a woman who created by God to bring love, joy, passion and caring into this world. I am so blessed that God has created a woman to be a mother, even though motherhood is a full time job, a mother's work is never done. Happy Mother's Day!  I love you so much….