My mum battled cancer for years. When she was 27 and my dad was 31, she passed away. There were three of us in the familyI’m the youngest and not quite two years old yet. Dad desperately needed to find a wife, or more so, a mother for us, because he couldn’t manage on his own. Six months later, he approached a woman he knew and asked if her daughter would marry him. The woman didnt hesitate, she just gave her blessing straight away. And so a 21-year-old new mum, Emily, joined our family.
Emily immediately took charge at home. She got everything tidied up, and with her own money, bought some fabric to sew school uniforms for two of us. The older siblings began calling her mum right away, but I couldnt bring myself to do it so easily. I struggled to accept the change, and looking back, I realise it wasnt easy for me. One day, I showed Emily that my biological mum always wore her hair in a low bun. From then on, Emily always tied her own hair in that same bun.
Still, I didnt start calling her mum even after that. My dad decided to try something different. Emily baked my favourite apple pie and the whole family gathered around the table. The others dug into my pie while I wasn’t even allowed to reach for it until I called Emily mum. Eventually, after three years, Emily had her first child, which was our fourth sibling. Thats when things started to go downhill for our family.
Dad couldnt find work in his trade, so he took a job at a local farm. Mum joined him there too. Four years later, our fifth child was born. Emily never made a distinction between her own children and us. Five years on, Emily fell ill with the same disease that claimed my birth mother. By this time, the older siblings were off at university in another city. Mum was in hospital, and I visited her every day. She constantly told the doctors she couldnt possibly be ill, she had young children waiting for her at home. Emily beat the disease.
Our happiness knew no boundsshe suffered so much, but she was stronger than the illness. Just when life seemed to be improving, our family began to lose dear loved ones. Six months later, my parents first son together was planning his wedding. The day before, he vanished. On the 36th day, he was found, and sadly, buried. After that, I moved back in with my parentsthere was no way I could leave my mum alone.
After losing him, my dad passed away, then my older brother, and soon after, my mums youngest grandson the son of my younger sister. The whole family was in a car accident, and only her son was injured. I am honestly amazed and still dont understand how my mum, after enduring such unimaginable loss and suffering, managed to keep her kindness, warmth, and love.
She raised five children, cares deeply for her grandchildren, and now has two great-grandchildren. Every morning she gets up early, cleans the house top to bottom, then sits and knits little things for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For us, her children, spending our free time with mum is something we treasure. Despite her age, she always has stories and things to talk about. Her love truly does reach everyone.
