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Connie’s Lessons As a Mother

May 4, 2021
Impact

This guest (RED)ITORIAL post was written by (RED) Ambassador Connie Mudenda. Learn more about Connie’s story here.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner…

I’ve been thinking a lot about my own experience as a mother. After losing three children to HIV as infants, I never thought Mother’s Day would be a day I would celebrate. However, I finally got to experience motherhood after I had my fourth child, Lubona, who proved early on that she had come to stay.

Over the last 8 and a half years, I’ve realized that motherhood is a learning process. I never had the chance to learn from my first three children, but I’m now learning so many important life lessons with my fourth child. I’d like to share some of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a mother.

  1. Take Things One Day at a Time

When I had my fourth child, Lubona, I was so scared to get emotionally attached to her. I had lost three children before, and the kind of pain I experienced is something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. I got through this pain by giving myself plenty of time to heal and learning to take things one day at a time.

  1. Speak Less and Listen More

Being a mother has taught me to listen, even to the unspoken word. I believe most mothers have this ability to speak less, listen more, and look out for our children’s gestures or hesitations in a conversation. Sensing our children’s desperation enables us to intervene and be there for them.

  1. Forge Ahead

No matter how broken or tired I am, I find the strength to continue to push forward for the sake of my daughter. I brought Lubona into this world, so I am her protector. I am the first person she goes to whenever she needs help, so I have to be available at all times. If she is in any sort of trouble, I drop everything to be there to protect or comfort her.I would go to unimaginable heights for her.

  1. Enjoy Every Moment

I am HIV positive and am so grateful that my medication allows me to live each day of my life to the fullest. We never know what tomorrow will bring, so we have to celebrate each and every day. I have learned to cherish every moment with my baby.

Happy Mother’s Day!