Motherhood And Disability
Mother’s Day is often dedicated to May 8 annually but celebrating such amazing and important souls in our lives in just a day isn’t just enough, right? Maybe the whole month of May could have been dedicated to Mothers, in my opinion.
To celebrate mothers in a unique way, one has to understand motherhood as a topic, like what is motherhood? What does it mean to be a mother?
These questions are as challenging to answer as they are simple. Yes, to give birth; to adopt children; to have a family.
Being a mother is much more than just the aforementioned meanings, isn’t it? There’s some large, overwhelming, and beautiful piece at the center of motherhood that is so hard to explain, thanks to your mother you exist and now reading this piece hence you deeply understand what I mean.
Basically, Motherhood is a state of being a mother, but for mothers, the meaning is different, to them, it is always being there for their children, helping and supporting them through everything life throws their way.
However, being a mother is a personal decision that does not exclude persons with disabilities, they also have the right to have a baby or not.
Motherhood with a disability is achievable and brings out strong families and compassionate children according to a “Disabled parenting project” article.
Several research studies have shown that mothers with disabilities face a lot of barriers compared to their non-disabled counterparts--depending on their disability and environment.
A good example is Joyce Kansiime, a mother with a physical disability who is now raising 4 kids she sired by 4 different fathers.
According to an article by TUKO news, Kansiime shared heartbreaking relationship experiences with the four men who claimed to love her.
The lady said all four abandoned her after she got pregnant, these are people she banked her hopes on because they pledge to support, protect, and care for her.
Despite the setbacks, she is providing for her children, a superb feeling she can personally define as a "mother."
The story reveals that persons with disabilities also give birth at the same rate as their non-disabled counterparts, but they do so in the face of enduring social stigma, provider ignorance, and persistent medical harms that cannot be explained by non-other than mothers with disabilities who understand better.
Therefore, women with disabilities should not shy away from motherhood despite the stereotype surrounding the whole topic, neither should they allow others to take their role as mothers just because they believe they could not do it on their own.
And now since it is claimed that "better late than never," Happy belated Mother's Day to all mothers with disabilities out here. Motherhood is sweet and should be experienced by all women.
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