Mother of the Year speaks of pain, triumph

Erica Virtue

THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Sydna Rodgers, current Mother of the Year, an office manager from Kingston, is an example of the cliche, "you can't judge a book by its cover".

Looking at her, one would not guess that she is the mother of five children (one deceased), aged 18 to five years old. Petite, radiant and full of confidence, she speaks about her life and her children and what winning the contest has done for her. She also speaks of pain, which has beset her in her young life.

Miss Rodgers' oldest, who would have been 19 next month, died under tragic circumstances in February this year. Miss Rodgers' wounds are still raw.

"I don't want to talk about it. I am still grieving. It does not matter how long, a mother never gets over the loss of a child," she said in an interview with Flair.

However, she has the support and love of her other children, Like a number of other women before her, she said her biggest disappointment has been the "minimal" support she has received from the two fathers of her children.

"Some men believe that if the relationship is over the children must not eat food. So there is minimal financial support and also very little emotional support," she added.

She herself was raised by a grand-aunt whom she knows as mother, and tries to do a better job with her children than her own mother did with her.

"The contest has really helped me learn some tips with parenting. I find that poor people and rich people often have the same problems raising children, but, the only difference is the way the issues are resolved. Being able to meet other mothers and discuss issues though, was one of the best things about the contest," she points out.

She said from a purely financial perspective it is far more difficult to raise children today than when her first child was born almost 19 years ago. In addition to other changes, parenting in the last 10 years, has become extremely difficult, she believes.

Her children, though, are proud of her parenting efforts so far.

"My children have made my life richer. Of course there are bad and good days, but I'm not about to back off despite the difficulties," she affirmed.

Her prizes include a trip to the Bahamas, a gold chain from Yours Jewellers, $5,000 cash and a portrait from Colour World.

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