When I look at the photo of my son and me at my Master’s graduation, it takes me back to a time of immense personal struggle, growth, and healing. For the first year of my Master’s program, I was pregnant, and for the second year, I became a mother to a beautiful little boy who was born with multiple health conditions.
Many people told me to give up my course, saying it would be too much for me to handle. But in truth, my course became my way of taking care of myself. It was my escape, my safe space, and my distraction from the overwhelming sadness and worries that came with my son’s health struggles.
Being a single mum meant I was navigating difficult decisions, including surgery plans, all on my own. But the Master’s program gave me something else to focus on. It allowed me to shut my mind off from the constant worrying, and instead, immerse myself in something productive. It became a mental break, a place where I didn’t have to carry the weight of being a mum, making life-changing decisions alone, and constantly worrying about the future.
I’m not saying that my studies were easy, but they gave me a sense of purpose and allowed me to grow in ways I never expected. While many might think that self-care means long baths or pampering, for me, it was about creating something that was mine. It was about taking control of my own path and allowing myself to feel fulfilled outside of motherhood.
This experience has taught me that healing doesn’t always look like what society tells us it should. Sometimes, it’s about doing something for yourself, even when life feels like it’s too much. It’s about finding your own way to cope and heal in the middle of chaos.
I look at my son today, and I’m proud of how far we’ve both come. I learned that even in the most difficult moments, there’s always space for growth, and there’s always a way to make self-care work, even if it doesn’t look like what others expect.