By JENNIFER SASSO
Special to the OBSERVER
Mother's Day is a wonderful day to express your appreciation and love for your mother. My mom has taught me to love those around you, be kind to all living creatures and to be thankful for my family. I love you, Mom, for making me who I am today.
Who I am today is a single mother. Single mothers may have made a choice to be "single" in raising their children or this may be not by choice - this may have caught them off-guard and they are left to carry the load all alone.
I would like to share my story in hopes to recognize the other single mothers out there, wishing them a Happy Mother's Day. I want to let them know they are not alone in their life struggles.
I, like many other single mothers, am alone in raising my young son, not by choice. I work over 40 hours a week to provide the necessary needs for my son. I provide a safe, secure home to live in; clothing, food, and educational care while I am at work.
Single moms struggle alone to balance working, cleaning, cooking, driving to and from, paying bills, day-care costs, doctors' visits, hospital emergency room visits, play time, bath time, bed time, 2 a.m. wake-ups, laundry, holidays, potty training, I can go on and on. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done in 24 hours! I have faced many challenges in my life, yet this is by far the most challenging task - being a single mother. Being a mother is a tough and important job, whether you're single or not.
We all tend to forget that life is short; we get consumed in the daily rat race. We forget to slow down, take a breath. Take the time to really look, listen and feel for the ones you love in your life. Much too often, once we do realize this, it may be too late.
I never planned on being a mom, let alone a single mother. My life changed when I looked in my son's big, blue eyes for the first time. I realized "life is so precious." I knew from that point, my path in this life was to give 150 percent to my son - making sure each and every day he feels loved, cared for and listened to. I tell him each day (several times) I love him, making sure that he is emotionally secure. One day he will grow up to be a strong man, who will remember. It's important that we take the time for our children and tell them we love them. The foundation that you build in doing so will pave the road to a loving, caring individual.
Each day is a blessing for me to have my son. Even though motherhood has its challenges and struggles, I would never change a thing or do anything any different. Take today to realize that every day we should tell our moms we love them. The time we have here on earth is a gift. Make sure that you tell your mother that you love her, hug her, take the time out of your busy day and spend time just talking to her. The simple things in life are the most meaningful in the end.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mommys out there. May today and everyday be all you have wished for. Be blessed.
Jennifer Sasso is a Dunkirk resident.
