The Hardest and Most Rewarding Journey: Parenthood

Parenthood is like looking both ways before crossing the street and then getting hit by an airplane

I recently came across this quote that made me reflect on parenthood. As my son nears adulthood, I find myself standing at the edge of an empty nest—not completely empty, but just enough that I won’t see him every day, maybe not even every weekend.

I always wanted to be a mother. That dream came to me later in life. By the time I had my son, I had traveled the world, climbed high-altitude mountains, flown in hot-air balloons, and even moved to another country—all in pursuit of a better life for the child I knew I wanted to have.

At 35, I became an immigrant. At 37, I became a mother. At 42, I became a widow.

Some things in life you don’t plan. I certainly never planned to do this parenting thing alone. I lost not only my co-pilot but my best friend, and suddenly, I found myself grieving with a five-year-old by my side. The closest family member was 3,000 kilometers away.

That five-year-old is now turning 18. Together, we grieved. Together, we traveled. Together, we faced the unbearable and somehow survived. And today, I have the privilege of watching an incredibly strong, resourceful, and resilient young man step into the world.

Looking back, I still don’t know how I did it. Some days felt impossible. Others, unbearable. And yet, there were moments so rewarding that they made it all worth it.

I suppose that’s the essence of life—chaos and beauty intertwined, hardship and joy coexisting.

What moments in your own journey—whether as a parent, a child, or simply as a human navigating life—have made the struggle worth it?