With only three days to go, the rush is on for a number of Verulam and Tongaat residents to get the perfect gift for Mother’s Day ahead of Sunday, 9 May.
For Pam Parmanand, 51, who will be celebrating with her mother, Shoba Rambakus, and daughter, Nicole Parmanand, the day will be spent with her loved ones, celebrating motherhood and all its glory. She said that being a mother means to show love to the person who gave you the gift of life. “Being a mother means having a child, which I can compare to having a heart working outside one’s body. Without one’s heart, a person’s body will not be able to function. For me, as a mother, my children are the reason for my being.”
Parmanand, a mother of two, said Mother’s Day has become too commercialised and people should use the day to reflect on the happier times spent with their mothers and remembering the most valuable life lessons that only a mother could teach. “Mother’s Day and the gratitude of a mother’s love should be recognised everyday.” As a single mother Parmanand said there are many challenges that one faces. “When my husband passed away it was a difficult time. I didn’t have a partner to make decisions with or reinforce what I thought would be right so the most difficult thing for me was making a decision regarding my children.” She said the most rewarding part of being a mother is seeing her children happy, irrespective of their age or accomplishments. “To see your child happy in their professional and personal life is amazing. A bubbly face and sense of pure happiness gives every mother joy. This gives you proof that whatever you did to help your child grow and all the love you invested in your child was not in vain.”
Rambakus, 71, Parmanand’s mother, said she is grateful for her two daughters and four granddaughters. “Being a mother and grandmother means you have a purpose. The pleasure of seeing your children’s achievement is a feeling only a mother can understand. For me, Mother’s Day is a day I use to remember what it means to have children and look at it as a day that families should get together to be grateful for all the sacrifices made by their mother or mother figure in their lives.” Nicole Parmanand said she is blessed to be raised by her mother and grandmother. “They are my pillars. They made me who I am. They taught me independence and how to be the best version of myself. I hope everyone takes the day to remember the hardships their mothers faced, as will I, and show those special women how much they mean to them.”
The management and staff of Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid join Pam Parmanand, Shoba Rambakus and Nicole Parmanand in wishing our readers a happy Mother’s Day.
