The Voice of Southwest Louisiana October 2017 Issue

ADVENTURES of the Lake
The WORLD’S
STRONGEST
WomenSingle
Mothers
By Ian Thibodeaux
Ianander Thibodeaux, a recent Mass
Communication graduate from McNeese
enjoys travel and writing about interesting
experiences and adventures in SWLA.
Message Ian S. Thibodeaux on Facebook to
have your adventures featured.
God is a father to the
fatherless and gives them
fair judgement. (Psalms
68:5, 82:3 paraphrased)
Moms, they were
there from the very
beginning of our
conception. They cook for
us, cleaned up our messes,
gave us encouragement and
wisdom in times of panic.
Our mothers were the ones
who supported our biggest
dreams when it seemed like
no one else would. It seemed
like she was always there
to help. However, that’s just
your average mom. There
exists another type of mom
that goes above and beyond
what’s normal. Someone
who has little to no help, but
still has to make a way. This
woman is called a single mom.
Single mothers hold a very
special place in my heart. If
you are wondering why, it’s
because I was raised by one.
My parents divorced when I
was five. As you could imagine,
this had a profound impact
on my life. Not having both of
my parents together meant
that life as I knew it would be
different. As a child with little
understanding about what
was going on, what I knew as
a happy family was torn apart
and my world with it.
From then on it was just me
and my mother. My mom did
the best she could to provide
me with the things I needed.
Whatever things she wanted
for herself had to be put on
hold for my sake.
Briona' Jcorrie, a young
single mother with her
two year old son Julius
lives in Lake Charles
Louisiana. She says, “As
a single mom, many
times I have to make
sacrifices and go without
so my child can have.
At times I may have to
leave work to tend to my
child because no one
else is available to help.
Single moms are doctors,
teachers and chefs all in
one. It’s a full time job
and we don’t get sick
days.”
Briona has a physical
condition called Scoliosis
(A sideways curvature
of the spine). She stated
that she wishes she
could do more with her
son. “I wish I could play
with him at the park or
take him places, but
physically I cannot do so
sometimes.”
Looking back on my own life,
there were many times where
my mother would give her
last just so I could have what
I wanted. This would make it
that much harder to get me
the things I needed, but as a
child I was ignorant to that
fact. If only I had known how
those sacrifices would affect
her.
Yes, there are countless times
where a single mother will
have to endure pain to take
care of her child’s needs. Some
may even start to feel like they
aren’t doing enough. This is
very painful and can affect her
ability to move, making it that
much harder to perform her
motherly duties.
Despite whatever painful
trials a single mom has to
endure, she will work through
it and be there for her child.
I’m sure there were plenty
of times when my mother
felt physically and mentally
drained, but she pushed
on because I needed her
and her care. These women
possess a certain type of
unexplainable strength. A kind
of strength that no man can
ever comprehend or have.
If it wasn’t for my mother’s
unrelenting drive to never give
up and rely on God’s guidance,
I wouldn’t be half the man I am
today. So here’s my message
to all the single mothers out
there.
Dear single mothers,
At times you may feel like
you’re not doing enough and
failing as a parent, but that
is not the case. I know that
there is nothing you won’t do
to care for your child. Even
when you’re a mess, you still
have "S" on your chest, a
supernatural supermom. Just
like a superhero, you defeat
any obstacle you face. You
always find the strength you
need to make things happen
and do what some would
think impossible. You are our
strongest fighter and first
responder. So continue to look
up to where your help comes
from and you will do just fine.
As a boy to a man who was
raised by a single mother, I can
say with confidence that we
need you, Mom. So just know
that your love is enough, God’s
grace is sufficient, and we’ll
turn out just fine.
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October 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 3