The Orlando Sentinel, the Washington Pan-African, and the Native Tongue Magazine have published the article, “We’ve Been Conditioned to believe that Motherhood is the Ultimate Act of Self- Sacrifice, A State of Servitude Even…;” which was written by Ms. Mutryce A. Williams. The St. Kitts-Nevis native who hails from the village of St. Paul’s St. Kitts began writing for the St. Kitts Labourspokesman in October 2002 and has since then been published in several local and regional publications such as the Leewards Times and the Caribbean News Now. The aforementioned news media cited the source of the article as Caribbean News Now.
Williams said that the article was not intended for publication, but was rather her personal thoughts, and to some extent a source of reaffirmation. She said that after sharing her written thoughts with her sister, writer, social commentator, Ms. Julie Charles, Julie insisted that she publish the article; as she thought that it was a message that many mothers needed to hear. Williams said, “My sister’s words were, ‘I know that you are a very private person, you let people know what you want them to know, and I know that you have promised not to write about your sons or even make reference to them in your articles, but this is a message that many mothers need to hear. There are mothers who are breaking under the pressure of trying to provide for their children, not the necessities of life but rather to satisfy their children’s unending wants. They think that this is their obligation as a mother. There are also mothers who have lost themselves. They need to hear that being a mother is only a part of who they are. It’s not all that they are. You need to listen to your own words. Although you are somebody’s mother, you are a writer whose purpose is to enlighten, share and make somebody’s journey and burden a little easier to bear, those are your words not mine…these thoughts are worth publishing.”
Williams said that there was still reluctance in publishing the article as she didn’t want it to be misconstrued. She said, “Within our country, this region, even the world over motherhood is revered, and I think also it’s synonymous with the word sacrifice. I didn’t want readers to get the impression that I was not a good mother, or that I didn’t view motherhood as an all important role. It is quite the contrary. I am clearly not against making sacrifices to meet the needs of one’s offspring. This is of course inherent or instinctive and that’s a good trait to have as a mother. I am clearly not against making sacrifices to ensure that one’s child secures a good education or is provided with the best opportunities that life has to offer. What I do have an issue with, is the countless sacrifices that mothers continue to make in order to satisfy the unnecessary wants of their children, children who in turn grow up with a sense of entitlement, and often give no consideration for the sacrifices that their mothers have made. This is the message I wanted to convey.”
She said, “There is clearly something wrong with a mother who works two or three jobs who owns one pair of battered shoe, whilst her child who has never held a job has several pairs of pristine name brand shoes, and that is the message that I wanted to communicate to other mothers. I think that as mothers we ought to reevaluate our roles and ourselves… We ought to value ourselves as well, not just as being someone’s mother but as human beings.”
Williams described being published by the aforementioned news media as rewarding and said that it was a gradual progression in her journey as a writer. She thanks everyone who has been a source of inspiration and encouragement throughout her ten (10) years of writing. She thanks her sister Ms. Julie Charles for encouraging her to publish the article, for being a great role-model, and most importantly for being the best sister that anyone could ever ask for. She thanks Mr. Dawud Byron, Editor of the Labourspokesman for publishing her first article and his staff for their unwavering support throughout the years.
Williams made special mention of Ms. Veronica Byron, Ms. Lucina Byron, and Mr. Vincent Inniss. She thanks every media house in the federation and region for publishing her work.
Williams, who said that motherhood has brought her tremendous joy and fulfillment, described it as the most important role that she has ever prepared for and the most important role that she will ever have. Williams’ sons Aidan-Daniel and Ethan-Matthew turned three (3) and two (2) respectively on June 17.
The article was also published by the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun but the pages have since expired.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-10/news/sns-mct-opinion-weve-been-conditioned-to-believe-that-20120510_1_dreams-children-ball-and-chain
http://nativetongueonline.com/weve-been-conditioned-to-believe-that-motherhood-is-the-ultimate-act-of-self-sacrifice/
http://thewashingtonpanafrican.com/?p=9113
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