Mothers Work Hard to Give their Children Opportunities

Following the Feast of Saint Monica, Unbound Editorial Director Loretta Shea Kline reflects on supporting single mothers.  

Being a mother is fulfilling and hard. It can bring out the best in us and test us in ways we never imagined.  

That may be especially true for single mothers. 

Mothers are the cornerstone of Unbound. Our programs around the world are built on our belief in the strength and wisdom of mothers, despite their challenges. We support mothers in their vocation and surround them with a community that honors their dignity and walks with them on their path to overcome obstacles poverty puts in their way. 

As August 27 was the feast day of Saint Monica, patron saint of mothers, it’s a good time to reflect on the role of mothers as advocates for their children. After her husband’s death, Saint Monica dedicated herself to raising her three children. She faced many difficulties as a single mother but through prayer found the courage to persevere.  

One of her children proved to be especially challenging but Monica refused to give up on him. She continued to encourage him and pray for him, and he became a respected scholar, influential philosopher and one of the best-known saints in history, Saint Augustine. 

Moms dream for their children  

Like Saint Monica, many mothers in Unbound programs are single mothers striving to provide for their children and raise them to be good people. These women come from various socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. They may be raising children on their own because of a death, abandonment, relationship discord, domestic abuse, guardianship, adoption or other circumstance. 

Each mom’s story is unique, but they have one important thing in common. These moms and heads of households want the best for their children and work tirelessly to give them opportunities they didn’t have growing up. 

One such mom is Adriana from Colombia. Adriana dreams of studying fashion design one day to become a designer and provide more income for her household, fulfill her own potential, improve her family’s living conditions and ensure her daughter, Melani, 8, has a quality education and opportunities in life. 

“I dream for my daughter that she has what I didn’t have … that she can live well financially, she can study, she can take care of herself, and she can fulfill her dreams of graduating,” Adriana said. “I want her to fulfill all her dreams as a professional woman.” 

Moms have their own dreams, too 

Growing up with a disability in a family of eight children, Adriana studied until the 11th grade and later completed high school and a technical course. As part of an Unbound mothers group, she has participated in Mothers Teaching Mothers, an initiative in which people with a certain skill teach it to others in the group. 

Adriana has always had a creative talent for design. 

“Since I was a child, I started making clothes for Barbies,” she said. “I really liked what design was like.” 

Today, Adriana makes and sells earrings to earn income. Fashion design continues to be her dream, however. 

“Yes, I dream,” she said, “and I want to study fashion design and don’t leave it there [but] take [my designs] to many countries,” she said. 

Like Saint Monica, Adriana and other Unbound moms are dedicating themselves to doing their best for their families. Let us pray for them and mothers everywhere that they may have the strength, courage, patience and support to faithfully fulfill their vocations and reach their God-given potential.  

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Copyright 2024 Loretta Shea Kline for Unbound
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