Every-day women share how their mothers helped shape their own journeys through motherhood.
By Shaniya Harding

ON the surface, motherhood is about feeding, caring, washing, and working. But for many women, it’s also about carrying forward the quiet, powerful lessons passed down from the generation before. This week, in celebration of Mother’s Day, Pepperpot Magazine ventured into the streets of the capital city as three women reflected on their own journeys as mothers and how their own mothers helped shape the way they raised their children.

“She Made It Easier”: A Mother’s Presence
Stanleytown mother of six, Paula Davidson, says the support she received from her own mother made her journey through motherhood easier and, in many ways, helped her become a better parent. A vendor at Stabroek Market, Paula is the mother of three boys and three girls, ranging from teenagers to adults. Although not all of them have yet gone out on their own, Paula says she is proud of those who have.

“Two of my sons are in the army, and one of my daughters is working at the airport. I am proud of all of my children, just looking at the younger ones now,” she said. Raising six children might sound overwhelming to some, but Paula says having her mother in her life made all the difference. “For me, nothing was hard about raising children,” she said. “Whatever they needed, if I couldn’t give them money, I would cook, and they understood. They were always content with whatever I did for them,” Paula added.

That quiet confidence, she says, came from her mother. “My mother helped me a lot when I had the boys. When I worked in the market, I would sell while she kept them.” Paula recalls how her mother never fussed over small things and had a simple, optimistic view of life—something Paula is glad to have learned from her and now passes on to her children.

Even today, Paula and her children remain close. “It was nice for me. I feel comfortable with my children. Till now, we’re very good,” she shared. Her bond with them reminds her of the connection she once had with her own mother. Though her mother passed away a few years ago, Paula continues to use the lessons and approaches she learned from her to teach her children, instilling in them the importance of family and education. Her plans for this Mother’s Day are simple. “I plan to cook out in the yard,” she said. It’s a tradition that connects her to the heart of motherhood, just as her own mother once did for her. “My mother was very good to me,” she added.

“Feeding, Caring, Disciplining”: The Simple Joys of Motherhood
For West Bank mother of three, Fazil Rasheed, becoming a mother was a moment of joy. Today, the mother of three older children, Fazil says that stepping into motherhood was exciting, and with the support of her family, especially her mother, she felt ready for the journey. “When I first became a mum, it was exciting. I wasn’t afraid of being a mum. I was happy and excited,” she said.

Her children, now aged 21, 17, and 16, grew up in Pouderoyen, where life was calm and community-oriented. “Raising them in Pouderoyen was nice. It was quiet and easy-going,” she shared. For Fazil, the best part of motherhood has been the every-day moments, cooking and caring for her children. “Feeding them and bringing them up; I enjoyed that,” she added, “The best part of being a mum is feeding them, caring for them, knowing it’s time to look after someone.”

She also remembers the challenges, especially the physical pain of childbirth. “The hardest part was making them,” she added. “There was a lot of pain, and it was hard.” Still, her values remain grounded. Discipline, she says, was one of the most important lessons she learned from her mother, and one she is determined to pass on. “One thing my mother taught me that I teach my children is discipline. I think that’s very important,” she said. For this year’s Mother’s Day, Fazil plans to spend quality time at home with her children and later, visit her own mother.

“We Lived By Faith”: Strength in the Struggle
Simone Phillips’ story isn’t one of ease. Simone is a mother of five, with children ranging from 12 to 35, and she raised them mostly on her own. “It wasn’t easy raising five children, but it was worth it,” she said. Coming from the village of Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara, Simone has lived many lives: as a wife, single mother, and now grandmother.

She describes the middle years as the hardest. “The second, third, and fourth were the hardest. Their father and I separated, and I had to go through a lot on my own,” she said. “As a single parent, you have to think about everything on your own. Everything is money, and there was no one to turn to but God.” Her mother, though not financially secure herself, helped in whatever ways she could. “My mother helped as much as she could, even though she wasn’t working either,” Simone added.

Today, her older children are working, while her youngest is still in high school. Simone believes she achieved what she and her mother both hoped for—raising good people. “I never had police problems or had to run around after them like some parents. Thank God for that,” she said. Even now, faith continues to guide her and her children. “They still live by faith and still walk that way,” she shared. For Simone, motherhood was about doing her best with what she had—a strength she inherited from her mother, and one her children are now growing into as well.

Paula, Fazil, and Simone are each mothers in their own way. Their lives are different. Their homes are different. But one thread runs through all their stories: the quiet strength and lasting lessons of the women who came before them. Their mothers didn’t hand them rulebooks. But they gave what they could—time, help, discipline, faith, and love. And now, their daughters do the same.

This and every Mother’s Day, the celebration often goes beyond flowers and cards. It honours the long line of women who raised children while passing down something unspoken yet deeply felt: a way of loving, enduring, and staying connected.