Yvonne: My Living Trophy, My Reward from God

In this life, it was not always easy for me. A lot of hardships and trials had been thrown to me in the past. I’ve been a single parent for over 6 years and I tell you, it was really difficult. To think of our finances, our daily expenses, on how to get by, the problems with my business, my hurting feelings and of course the well being of my only daughter filled up my mind. As if, everything is a mess in my life. I was sad and bitter every day, all day.

Good that I have a daughter. I diverted most of my time to Yvonne. When she was still a baby, I taught her how to count from 1-10, sing the alphabet, and point on the parts of her body. As soon as she started to talk, she already knew all that I’ve taught her. Fantastic! People were amazed by her smartness.

I also taught her how to introduce herself like a beauty contestant when she was only 1 year old and 7 months. I put her on top of the table and there she entertained people seeing her recite that long introduction of herself with facial expressions and with actions. She never baby talked. Her words were very clear. That was so cute of her. She didn’t like Barbie dolls, or stuffed toys. She liked those toys that will make her mind think such as the jigsaw puzzle. I still remember, I bought her a jigsaw puzzle with a picture of a chick coming out of its shell. When she played with it, she wanted the picture to be upside down. And that’s how she completed the puzzle. It was really awesome!

We were surprised when she was 4 years old. One time, we were in Western Union to get the money sent by my sister and beside it was the pawnshop. I and my mom were busy talking to a lady and suddenly, Yvonne stood up and went closer to a sign, pointed at it, and started to read them on her own. The security guard was really surprised! When she started to go to school, her teachers noticed her for memorizing things easier than other children.

One of her teachers told me, she picked Yvonne to recite the tribute to the parent’s speech for their up coming nursery graduation day. I was nervous because I never let her memorize 1 long paper to be recited in front of a crowd. Every time we waited for the bus, I said 1 sentence and let her follow after me and challenged her if she can do it. And she did! And she wanted more. So, the sentence became per paragraph until it became everything. She was motivated by an ice cream, or chocolate. When she can memorize the sentence I say per day and add the previous sentence to the new one each day, she gets a token until we finish the whole page. She delivered the speech very well that day and I had tears after hearing her. I heard parents saying, whose daughter is that? I just smiled and deep inside I said “I am the proud mom”.

The school principal chose her to be the school representative to compete in a declamation contest. I was hesitant at first because it’s a school competition with other schools in our zone. The principal said she has the potential of becoming a good public speaker. On the zone meet day, there were 12 contestants and she was the youngest being 7 years old (1^st grader). We practiced her at home. I helped her with the memorization, facial expression, drama, and actions. She was very confident with her deliverance. She was like a real actress with tears and feelings. She won the 3^rd place. Not bad because that was her first time to join a contest. The next year, the school wanted her again to represent the school. So, again she won. This time, she’s the 2^nd placer. The school liked her so much and she became a popular student and I became the popular mom. On her 3^rd grade, she was the contestant again for the school. And finally, she got the 1^st place. She was the champion in the Declamation contest out of 21 champions from different schools in our province. Can you believe that? Everybody was celebrating. The school hung a big poster size picture of her in front of the school being proud that she was the winner. They called her the best actress of the town. I and my daughter were so famous in that area at that time.

She is already on her 7^th grade and she’s still doing well. She works on her homework alone. She’s a very responsible kid. She’s in the honor roll and got a President’s award last year. I came to realized that I am not a loser because I have my daughter. She is my living trophy for overcoming all those troubles in my life. God rewarded me with a talented and loving daughter like her. I am so proud to be her mother. I can’t imagine myself how could I ever surpass those obnoxious moments of my life without her. She was there when I was melting. When her dad left us, she was just at the age of 5.  She told me: “stop crying mama, don’t worry I’m still here for you. I will never leave you”. That really touched my heart.

After all that I’ve been through, it’s not my lost because I have my daughter in my life. She made me strong. And I am a better person now. She is God’s gift to me that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Being her mom, is like having the top career in this world. I love you Yvonne, my living trophy.