Paddling Through Single Motherhood: A Mother’s Day Tribute

Nowadays, single mothers are an everyday reality – over 10 percent of the entire Philippine population to be exact. In fact, it’s too common these days, it’s easy to shrug the reality off and pass it off as ordinary. It never really is.


Because I have seen my sister struggle through it.

Once a party-mad teenager, at 22, her crowd-surfing, booze-filled days instantly turned into ones ridden with mounds of dirty diapers, unwashed plates and clothes; endless wails of a sickly baby; juggling between tending to a party of two and working to suffice their needs. Like any mother, she chases one bill, one deadline after another, sleep-deprived, beat as crumpled paper, on the brink of sanity sometimes. 

A taste of things to come.

I saw how that upbeat 20-something transitioned from a carefree soul to an ulcer-prone, tumor-surviving, hypertensive diabetic whose life revolves entirely around raising a daughter, keeping up with the expenses and putting aside her illnesses so her kid – now a bright, Japoy-crazed 11-year old – would be able to go to school. In and out of hospitals, she had to make the painstaking, physician-advised decision to resign from a call center post and make do now with what little she makes from baking and selling an assortment of goods online to grapple with dear life. And she does most of that single-handedly. 

A snazzy surprise for a snazzy mom.

We’re only a few days shy of Mother’s Day. On such singular dedication day, we reward the many colorful stories and extraordinary sacrifices of motherhood and raise our glasses to the woman who bleeds dry her life in order for her children’s to be a promising, upgraded version of hers.

Me trusty Electrolux microwave oven with grill. Did the trick for melting cheese and grilling rib eye.

So today, I give one of those awesome women, my sister, a much-needed perk-upper with a Delightful-E crafted Mother’s Day surprise party, with a little help from her scheming friends, the husband and my nifty Electrolux microwave oven with grill, which by the way, I used to make nearly half the party dishes, including lasagna and grilled rib eye (yes, this microwave does grill stuff!). 

But hey, don’t let me spoil the surprise for you. Watch the fun video of that little stunt we all pulled off below! I hope you’ll be inspired to concoct your own surprise for that one mother that amazes you this time of the year. She deserves it.

Because whether she’s a single mother or not; an adoptive or biological mom, motherhood is never ordinary. It is rarely glamorous or romantic. It is one helluva ride that joins worlds together, that of the mother and her children, to no end. A life that gives you lemons and lots of pain, but also lots of love and embraces in between sorrys and i love yous. And sometimes, surprise parties too.

Happy Mother’s Day, fellow moms! Hope you have a celebration that’s as legendary as you.

Have you also got a Delightful-E Yummy experience with that mother who amazes you? Share a photo and a brief description of your experience with Electrolux and your story might just win one of three delightful Electrolux kitchen packages worth over P25,000 each! Visit the Electrolux Your Moments with Mommy Contest Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook/app_262794450560161?ref=br_tf) for details!