What a Mother Means to a Daughter
The Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Canada held its 7th annual Mother-Daughter Tea Party on Sunday, May 28th, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. There were 33 people in attendance, plus nine online via Zoom. The topic of the event was The Power of the Mother-Daughter Relationship: Modeling & Influencing.
The opening remarks from WFWP Canada President Lilly Tadin reminded the audience that we were here to celebrate the many beautiful and challenging relationships between mothers and daughters.
“As mothers we always give, give without ceasing.” - WFWP Canada President Lilly Tadin
The first guest speaker, Mrs. Rosary Escano [Philipina Women’s Network] credited her own artistic nature to her mother’s character. Her mother exposed Rosary and her three siblings to numerous films like The Sound of Music and The King and I. Her mother also taught them good manners and conduct. The Escano family were food lovers and loved to cook because of their mother’s talents in the kitchen.
“My mom lived vicariously through me.” - Rosary Escano
When Rosary and her siblings met socially they would laugh because they noticed that they now behaved in similar ways to their mother which in their younger days they vowed never to imitate.
Rosary had this to say about the mother-daughter relationship:
Self awareness is key to a good relationship
Faith and prayer are very valuable to the relationship
Banu Siva [Project Coordinator for Senior Tamil Society of Peel] believes the relationship between mother and daughter is the strongest of all bonds. Her parents left India for Canada in their 40’s leaving behind good jobs and security for a better life for their children.
“My mom is a true example of hard work” - Banu Siv
Banu told the audience that when she and her mother argue, she would often give in because she craved her mother’s acknowledgement and praise. However, Banu’s mom didn’t praise her often for fear of spoiling her.
Now that Banu is taking care of their elderly mother she has noticed that now their mother-daughter relationship has reversed. She has a great appreciation for her mother.
Evelyn Stewart [Coordinator WFWP Canada] had dedicated parents that struggled in their marital relationship. She grew up in a safe environment but always had a sense that there was something missing. When her father had passed away she brought her mother to live with her and her family to have the experience of caring for her children. Her mother had the opportunity to let go of resentment of men by loving her grandson. Evelyn overcame all the difficulties in her heart seeing her mother regress into a gentle child.
“Your mom, whoever she is, whatever way she treated you…that’s the very best she could do. She was missing a lot of her own preparation for being a mother.” - Evelyn Stewart
Evelyn advised that instead of arguing and judging our mother, we should appreciate her. When you fill her reservoir she will have lots to give.
Nana Whyte [International Business Marketing student Sun Moon University] gave a video tribute testimony to a mother’s love. Her mother would call her every single day and ask her what she ate and how her day was. Her mother would also encourage her not to give up on her dream to attend Sun Moon University.
“Mother’s are everything for us.” - Nana Whyte
The event concluded with a question and answer session and group photo.