Real Life Real Faith May Issue | Page 12

A MOTHER'S LOVE By Michelle Cuttino LOVE AND HAPPINESS There is no relationship like that of a mother and her child. From the moment of conception to the onset of contractions, our natural bond is one that cannot be replicated. After childbirth, striving to maintain the closeness felt during pregnancy is inherent. Parenthood is not easy. Like many, my son was raised in a single-parent household. While this was not the way I thought things would unfold for my family, I embraced my fate. Ours was not a perfect existence. My son and I had a strained relationship with his father for many years. Although things weren’t always rosy, I made certain we remained a fixture in the life of his father, and his father’s family. Children are sponges, and whatever negativity we put out, is the same negativity they take in. I made it a point never to speak ill of his father. I never wanted to be the reason behind a failed father and son relationship. I needed my son to form his own opinions, and treat his father the way he saw fit. I was also cognizant of how I spoke to my son. I made certain to never degrade him. I stayed positive in my thinking and communication, and it paid off in the end. NOMADIC | 24