Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 128: The Most Important Person in my Life.

Hello, everyone.
I hope we are all doing quite well.
I am glad to participate in this contest to talk about the most important person in my life as this helps me appreciate them more and their impact.
Here it goes!

Who is the most important person in your life? Tell us about the person and your relationship with them.

There are few important people in my life, but there is one dearest to my heart, whom I cherish the most. I can say the sweetest person I know, full of life. A woman outspoken, confident, and exhibits a positive aura around her.
My Mother.
Fair, chubby, with a smile that puts a smile across your face, with her laughter ringing out and tingling your ears, she is free-spirited and sociable.
Being her last child, we have a very strong bond that grew as we loved under the same roof. I don't call her the conventional “Mummy” but “Oeomoni” as a fan of Kdramas. Even as a grown up, she still teases me playfully, calling me pet names, and ending every call with “I love you.”
She makes my heart melt.

Why is this person so important to you? Share the qualities or actions that make them special.

After her husband's demise, she was so devastated. I watched my once bubbly mum at thirty-eight struggle to gather the broken pieces of her heart and move on with life. As young as seven, I cried because I understood a little about the concept of death. But my little mind couldn't fully understand what she had to cope with. However, I didn’t fail to notice the once cheerful laughter that tingled my ears and made me smile back broadly at her were less forthcoming with more consciousness; an aftermath of an unpleasant event, as I lived under her sole provision.
I grew and began to appreciate her more and the battles she fought for her family, happy that she regained her joy and cheerful spirit along the way. In the years she raised I and my siblings, she showed;

Strength: Carrying the burden of raising six children alone is never an easy task. I never saw Mother break down in front of us. She might have cried her heart out in private, perhaps, she didn't want us to feel it is our duty to worry about her. As I got older, I saw a woman who wanted to give her children strength even when she was weak.

Sacrifice: Having to deprive herself of the best to see it went to us, giving us quality education, food, clothing to the best of her ability, makes me appreciate her sacrifices the more. It reinforced that a love of a Mother for her children is second to none.

Hard work: Mother is the most hardworking person I know. She strived daily at her place of business to see there was food on the table. While I was much younger, and my siblings in boarding school, before she goes off for the day, she hands me some money to treat myself to some snacks before she's back. I don't remember starving as a child. I count it a blessing.

Compassion: It didn't fade in the face of death. Yes, death didn't rob her of emotional availability to her children. It was hard at first to cope and balance her emotions, but she was empathetic towards our issues and well-being, finding joy seeing us grow and doing exploits in our lives, she is fulfilled.

^{Mother in church with her grandchildren at their dedication.}

Can you share a memorable experience you had with this person? It could be a moment when they supported you, inspired you, or helped you during a difficult time.

I had several of sweet experiences with Mother. One which evoked the most of a pleasant and fond memory was the period I got depressed owing to the toxic environment of the boarding school I was at. With tears and redness in my eyes, I pleaded with her that I didn't want to go back despite being a senior in her final year. I recounted to her such negative experiences I had in the boarding house which dealt with my mental health and would traumatize me if I continued.
With keen ears she listened and sat through all my teary-eyed explanations, at the end consoling me.

She showed how she valued my mental health and wellness above all, and had me transferred to another school where I wrote my WAEC and NECO, coming out with very good grades. Her actions made me love her a whole lot more with not being dismissive of my plight.
I honestly wouldn't want to imagine how it would have turned out for mother and I if she hadn't been empathetic and listened to her child’s concerns.

What valuable lesson have you learned from this person?

I learnt Resilience from her, not in words, but actions, striving to make the best out of life.
It built me with a winning spirit that makes it easier for me navigating through situations.

Praying is one I cultivated from my Mother. The family prayer sessions, the vigils, the fast, it all shaped my spiritual outlook, and helped in always remembering that I am not alone and can talk to God, my father about anything.

My contentment also stems from the fact I saw my mother being contented and training us within her ability with what was available. It was not in abundance at the early stages of widowhood, but God! am I proud of her and the way she lived. She mirrored herself in us.

If you had the chance to say something special to this person today, what would it be?

Hi, Oeomoni.
When you talk about your husband, I still see a tint of sadness in your eyes. He can never be replaced, but in assurance is your days won't be lived out in solitude.
I am grateful for the years of sacrifice, determination and dedication in raising your kids alone.
We are separated by land mass, but I'm always a call away should you want to talk about anything. I'm here as a backbone for you to rest on, and you are surrounded by six lovely children who are super proud of you.
On the 26th of July, you will turn 60, and we will be here to celebrate you in your love language. Feel free to rely on us as we did. The precious time we still have with you, we'll make it the most memorable for you.

The end.

Thank you all for reading my piece.

I extend an invitation to @alexanderpeace @ubongudofot @dequeen to participate in this contest.