Mother's Day Stories from the In Her Presence Seniors Group

May 10, 2024

Mother’s Day Stories from the In Her Presence Seniors Group

To celebrate Mother’s Day, the Senior Women were asked to share a story about their own moms or about becoming a mom. The storytelling project kicked off in their Friday morning class at SMCC with a Q&A activity that explored different aspects of motherhood. The questions included:

How would you describe your mom?
Are there songs your mom used to sing to you?
Is there a meal your mom would cook for you?
How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a mom?
Where did you give birth?
What have been the most joyful moments of being a mom?

In class, everyone picked a question out of a hat and then shared their answer with the group. The ladies had so much to say! After a morning of sharing, they were given a homework assignment to prepare a story to share with the group during the next class. Their story could honor their mom or to describe their own experience as a mom. They would have an opportunity to record their story and have their picture taken.

Naturally, the ladies showed up the following Friday morning in style and with beautiful stories to share! Each lady recorded her story and had their picture taken for Mother’s Day. After sharing their stories, the ladies sang some songs that their mothers used to sing. The class concluded with a group conversation about advice they would have for other moms today. It was a powerful day of sharing and connecting.

The Mother’s Day storytelling project was led by the mother-daughter teaching team of Linda Bernard-Olson and Eloise Melzer. Speaking of the experience, Bernad-Olson said, “This project has meant so very much to us all – we all have mothers and even if we were raised by someone else, they became our mother. It’s been very moving to hear them speak about someone who is so very important to them and has influenced their lives in SO many ways. I’ve loved learning more about my Senior ladies and hearing what they value so very much from their past and what they have passed on to their own children.”

Marie Immaculee

On this particular day, I would like to talk about my warrior women.  My mother Justine never went to school. However, she was very clever indeed.  My mother gave birth to me and my nine other siblings.  She was an amazing teacher and a very hero working woman. She woke up very early before the entire family and immediately start working. She is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. A time came when our father became blind and mom had to take over all the responsibilities. It was my daily prayer that I became as responsible and strong as she was.  After I got married, God blessed me with five children of my own.  I did my best to educate them as my mom educated us. On this special day, I want to say that I am a very proud daughter and a very respectable mother to my family all thanks to my wonderful mother, Justine. I love you, mom, and may your soul rest in eternal peace.

Listen to Marie’s story:

Seraphine

I inherited my behavior from my mother because she cared for her husband, our dad, and her children. As a result, I took good care of my husband, whom I accompanied faithfully until his last days. I also looked after the children he had left me until they grew up, finished their studies, and set up their own homes. As far as food is concerned, I love fish because my mother was crazy about it.

Listen to Seraphine’s story:

Alphonsine

My name is Alfonsine. Today is May 3, 2024. I am at SMCC, South Portland Maine. Today, I am sharing a story which represents Mother Day. My mother’s name was Domina. She was tall and very pretty. She was a very good woman. She taught me to be a good woman.. I got married when I was 18 years. I have six children. I love my family so much. Thank you.

Listen to Alphonsine’s story:

Beatrice (Beya)

My name is Beya, Beya Bantu. I am very happy for my mommy. She had 11 children: Six sons and five daughters. We are all alive. She had no sleep when any child was sick, even at night. She worked every time for our reading. She cooked and washed every child. She taught us, her children a lot of advice. We always went to church with her.

Our mother loved to cook for us cassava, chicken, and beef. I love my dear mother. I am now a mother of five. I sing songs to my children learnt from my mother too. My mother taught me to respect God, love family, and husband. I followed this good advice and had had great success in my social life; everybody loves me.

Listen to Beya’s story:

Cecile

Today is May 3, 2024. I am a student and I am at SMCC in South Poland. Today I am sharing a story within Her Presence for Mother’s Day. My mother’s name is Josefina Nyabilindi. I look like my mother. Even in my family when they see me, they call me my mother’s name.

My mother was a strong woman, wise, responsible, intelligent, and very courageous. She loved us very much.

My mother was a great advisor to teach Youth how to live in society, work, and pray. She liked to sing religious songs and was going to a Protestant church.

When I became a mother, I was incredibly happy and proved to be a good mother for my baby. I sang for my daughter.

I sang this song for my daughter: “Moville kumina kamba kamba kamba kamba.”

It is a song from my country, my province, my village. Yes. This is my story.

Listen to Cecile’s story:

Godelieve

My name is Godelieve Amani. Today is May 3, 2024. Location: SMCC in South Portland. Today I am sharing a story with In Her Presence for my Mother’s Day.

I separated from my mom at the age of four.

I grew up with my mom’s sister, who had no children. This one didn’t take me to school, but she taught me household chores.

Then I got married and had five children, including a girl and four boys.

I thank God for giving me wisdom, intelligence, and a long life. A wise mother knows when the child is sick. She does not sleep. She watches over the child.

Listen to Godelieve’s story:

Marie

My name is Marie. Today is May 3, 2024, Location SMCC in South Poland. Today I am sharing a story with In Her Presence for Mother’s Day. Remembering, honoring my mom. My mother was taller than me. I love my mama. She was like a little teacher about God. For the love I have received since I was born. I love my mom because I have a good mom. When I found out I was so happy. Okay

Listen to Marie’s story:

Melanie

My name is Melanie. Today is May 3, 2024. Location SMCC in South Portland, Maine. Today I am sharing a story with In Her Presence for Mother’s Day.

I have been an orphan from a young age. My sister-in-law, married to one of my five big brother, raised me as her first child. I consider her like my mother. She treated me good. From her I learned to be a young girl until I got married. As mother. I cherish every single moment. God bless me and give me time to spend with my five daughters.

Listen to Melanie’s story:

Regine

My name is Regine Muswamba. Today is May 3, 2024. Location SMCC in South Portland, Maine. Today, I am sorry I am sharing story with In Her Presence for Mother’s Day.

I love my mama. My mom is named Sidi Chantal Muzima. I am proud of my mom. I love my mom. Because she cooked food for me. I have cooked my mom’s food again and again, but it is still very, very good. My mom cooked food with smile. She taught me to love my family and to sing for the children.

Listen to Regine’s story:

Sarah

My name is Sara. Today is May 3, 2024, location site SMCC in South Portland, Maine. Today I am sharing a story with In Her Presence for Mother’s Day. Before I share a story about my mother, my mother’s name, Jawasi Sara. She was tall, kind, and smart. She sounded like me. She had long black hair, brown eyes, and a smile. She died before my dad in 1972, when I was 15.

The moment that comes to me when I think about my mother was when she told us stories every evening smiling. She liked to cook rice, beans, and milk. I cook this for special occasion. When I grew up in my country,

When I left school after eating, I helped my mother with the housework. Then I played with my friend. An evening I did my homework.

She will be proof of me saying me get married and have children and become a mother. That’s when I come got pregnant. I was stressed because I didn’t know how things were going to go.

I did give birth in hospital. It was a mid-wife and my husband, and my big sister too.

I was very happy to have my baby and forget all pain. It was my husband who gave the baby name. I loved my family. It’s my story.

Listen to Sarah’s story: