#lingat

Although having a father serve as the family's primary provider is the norm, have you ever considered having your mother, who is typically at home taking care of the household's needs and the children, serve in that capacity?

No doubt, a lot of families have personally acquainted with a person that perfectly fulfills the aforementioned description. And in my case, it was my mother who best raised me and my sister in the right manner and provided a way that was typical and enjoyable for families everywhere else.

Her life then and now

My mother is a nurse who later began instructing at this particular university in San Fernando, Pampanga, for students who would like to become nurses. She enjoys helping doctors and patients while working as a nurse, and that's what I mean by dedication.

On the other hand, she is committed to her family as well as her job. She had no choice but to temporarily suspend her profession as a nurse and a teacher in the Philippines in order to try her luck as a foreign teacher abroad, likewise for those aspiring student nurses, since she is the only provider for the family.

It was challenging at first since she is the parent to whom we have become bonded, and because my sibling and I still have a lot of time left given our young ages. It was not only hard for us but for her also, doubling the feeling we felt. But in the end, she persevered in working abroad despite the challenging circumstances for 6 years before deciding to return permanently.

Even though she is at home, she still earns money for the family by doing self - employment opportunities. She resumed her profession as an ER nurse at a hospital after the pandemic subsided, managing to make ends meet for our family of four.

Breadwinner’s sacrifices

The route she chose and the experiences she had were substantially different from what other "Ilaw ng Tahanan" went through. To maintain the strength and happiness of her family, she became a mother, a father, and many more roles.

She endured all the trials and sacrifices from the time I was born until this present moment and also possible for the moments that may come in the future, and words cannot express how grateful my family is to her for doing so.

I will always be grateful for everything she did for us, and with her efforts, no child will stop at nothing to repay her and give her the life she gave.

Being the family's breadwinner isn't just a job for dads; it can also be done by moms. They deserve our appreciation for their outstanding and amazing efforts, especially during this month-long celebration of women's rights.