It is not everyday that you go by and see this. We were reaching Strasbourg cathedral when we heard music. There was a crowd gathered around and then I saw her!

Her movements were beautifully flowing with the breeze, there was emotion and love. I looked at the singer in a Korean traditional dress. She was singing “You raise me up” by Josh Groban.

It was Mother’s day that weekend so I wondered if the singer was the mother of that beautiful dancer. And right on queue, the song ended, they embraced and the dancer said with pride “This is my mum!”

I too had my daughter next to me, with her arm locked in mine. Sometimes I look at her and I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have become a mother. She is a good mix of her father and I but I see myself in her often.

In spite of all the similarities, she is her own person. She is stubbornly determined and stronger than she admits. She is also adventurous, funny and sensitive. She is my world. I am always present and willing to help with everything but I don’t have any doubt that she will find her own unique path in life.

I thought about my own mother whom I lost four years ago, the sacrifices she made for me and my siblings and the way she was always worried about our well being. The way she always thought if she let her guard down, something bad could happen to us.

At the time, I always thought how exaggerated her fears were but now I laugh thinking how right she was when she told us “when you’ve become a mother you’ll understand how I feel”. I do and I know I will never stop worrying.

So looking at this mother and daughter and at the other Korean mothers from their group who were there with their daughters, I felt the love, the pride but also all the other emotions that come with becoming a mother.

I say becoming a mother because when you have a child and you take her home, you don’t know anything. You may have read all the books, hear all the advice  from your family and friends but it is your child that is going to teach you how to become a mother. All children are not made equal, one method or advice does not fit all.

You will adapt, you will go through many hurdles but in the end you will succeed.

And the love, well, that is everything.