Sul y Mamau Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

-Subtitles

-"From her oak, I am one acorn

-"That took root

-in her fertilized soil

-"Today I give thanks to her

-"More than a mum

-Mam has been to me"

-The warm words

-of Robin Llwyd ab Owain.

-Words that are on the minds

-of many of us on Mothering Sunday.

-A day that has a different meaning

-for many of us...

-..depending on our circumstances...

-..as we remember

-a mother or grandmother...

-..and their unconditional love

-for us.

-This year, it's a century

-since women won the right to vote.

-The battle for equal rights has

-dragged on throughout the century.

-We are thankful that

-there were women who were strong.

-Strong women are part

-of our family experiences.

-"Women with steel"

-Nain would call them.

-That steel is something that a girl

-that grows up to be a mother...

-..tries to transfer to her children.

-Tonight, we'll focus on

-two very special mothers.

-Two that have been shaken

-by experiences...

-..that most of us

-wouldn't go through in a lifetime.

-But they've got through it

-and have done so with strength.

-Fflur Fychan lives on a farm

-in Abercegir near Machynlleth.

-Ryland went to meet Fflur

-and her family.

-In August 2010, Fflur Fychan's life

-changed overnight.

-During a family holiday to France...

-..she was paralysed by the

-rare condition transverse myelitis.

-Confined to a wheelchair, she's

-determined to be a normal mum...

-..to her three daughters,

-Mari, Lisa and Nansi.

-You want sugar?

-The condition, of course,

-is a challenge...

-..to be a mother

-and to keep a family going.

-Yes, it's surprising how

-some simple tasks are frustrating.

-Sometimes, you want

-to do things for the children.

-But they've had to become

-more independent.

-As they've got older,

-it's become easier.

-Maybe they're being better prepared

-for the future.

-As a mother,

-you like to do things for them.

-Do you want milk, Nansi?

-You've done it?

-Take it to the table, then.

-I get the impression that

-you're a very practical family...

-..and that you can face challenges

-with strength.

-I didn't choose this situation.

-However, I couldn't sit back

-and let things just happen.

-We try and face every challenge

-and think, "How can we do this?"

-Rather than do nothing, we think...

-.."We'll try. We might have to think

-more creatively."

-Do you want to practise your dancing

-later? If we have the time.

-The Urdd Eisteddfod is before long.

-OK?

-Though she's in a wheelchair,

-it doesn't affect anything.

-Mam always makes sure

-we follow our dreams.

-I don't know how she manages things

-for us three.

-The children were quite young

-when Fflur had the condition.

-They've grown up with Fflur

-in the condition she's in.

-She's still Mam to them.

-They're used to having

-slightly different responsibilities.

-Helping each other, helping Fflur.

-That's not all bad.

-Being independent is important...

-..but I have to accept

-that I need help.

-I'm lucky to have my family

-around me.

-As the children get older,

-the sisters help too.

-That fills me with joy.

-You used to be a teacher,

-but you've had a career change.

-When I became paralysed,

-I lost confidence.

-It was difficult enough

-that my children had to adapt.

-I didn't feel that I wanted

-to return to the classroom...

-..and force other people's children

-to adapt too much.

-Maybe that was a mistake.

-When I've taught children

-at Sunday school...

-..they look right in your eyes.

-They only care

-about what you're saying to them.

-They don't see the disability.

-It's important

-that we say thank you.

-Can you see the picture?

-It's a picture of Jesus.

-He helped a lot of people.

-I think that faith

-has always been a part of my life.

-During dark times, I turn to it

-and I turn to prayer...

-..or I ask for help sometimes.

-When my life changed

-because of this condition...

-..I looked into

-different forms of energy...

-..and saw that faith

-in many countries was different.

-But there's something

-that binds people together too.

-In Sunday school,

-we made Mothering Sunday cards.

-We listened to the story

-of the ten ill people...

-..but only one said "thanks".

-Sometimes I think it's the energy

-that helps me to be positive...

-..rather than to focus

-on the negative and the cruel world.

-You can be pulled into

-that side of things...

-..but I try my best

-to go the opposite direction...

-..and to look for the best

-in every situation.

-Family is very important to Fflur.

-It's something that's

-kept her going, given her strength.

-She's ensured that the children...

-..haven't missed out because of her

-condition and that they enjoy life.

-It's nice there's a day that

-we can give something back to her.

-And give her presents

-and spoil her.

-For some, Mothering Sunday is a day

-to celebrate with the children.

-For others, there's sadness.

-It's an opportunity to remember

-and to mull things over.

-In autumn 2014, Heledd Tomos

-and her husband, Gethin...

-..found out they were expecting

-their first child.

-It was a normal pregnancy,

-everything was fine.

-I had a 12-week scan

-- everything was fine.

-I went back for the second scan

-at 20 weeks.

-The scan was a bit odd.

-They took their time,

-checking and rechecking.

-They couldn't say a lot at the time.

-We were then sent to Cardiff.

-Then more scans before finding out

-how sick the baby was...

-..that he hadn't developed properly.

-Sadly, he wasn't for this world.

-How important was your faith?

-How did that help you?

-It helped me a lot

-during difficult times.

-I read the Bible often...

-..and tried to find a way forward...

-..and to have the strength

-through reading the Bible.

-I read similar stories in the Bible.

-But it was difficult too...

-..because I questioned

-why God had done this to us.

-It was a help in one way,

-but you also question your faith.

-You think, "Why us?"

-Faith

-has always been important to me.

-During difficult times,

-you definitely return to it.

-What support did you receive?

-There's the Aching Arms charity.

-How important is it

-that there's a wider community...

-..that gives you

-that type of support?

-I found Aching Arms

-through online forums.

-Aching Arms sends a teddy

-to people who've lost a baby.

-The teddy's given by another family

-who've lost a baby.

-That creates

-a really nice relationship...

-..that a bereaved family

-gives to another bereaved family.

-After I found out about them...

-..I developed a relationship

-with them.

-I started handing out Aching Arms

-teddies at Glangwili Hospital.

-I arrange that they go there.

-They're handed out at the hospital.

-You lost Cai...

-..but Myfi and Deio

-have arrived since then...

-..and have gladdened your heart

-and filled your life with happiness.

-How aware are they

-of their big brother?

-Is it important

-that you remember him?

-We talk about Cai all the time.

-Cai is part of our lives.

-We have pictures of him

-all over the house.

-His tree is in the garden.

-It's a normal part of their lives

-that Cai is with us.

-Yes.

-Good morning. Thank you

-for coming this morning.

-Capel Salem in Canton, Cardiff,

-opens its doors to many societies.

-One morning a fortnight,

-parents and their children...

-..go to a breakfast club

-led by Reverend Evan Morgan.

-On the menu today

-is smoked salmon and cheese.

-There's fruit, some sweet treats

-and fresh coffee.

-The breakfast club

-was founded about ten years ago.

-The chapelgoers felt we needed

-to do more in the community.

-We felt that a lot of Welsh speakers

-who've moved to the capital...

-..are far away

-from their grandparents.

-So, mothers, with parents

-and grandmothers welcome as well...

-..come every other Wednesday morning

-to have breakfast...

-..and to have the chance

-to chat and socialize.

-I've volunteered

-for almost ten years now.

-I saw it as an opportunity

-after cutting down on my work hours.

-Because I enjoy being with children,

-I give cuddles to the babies...

-..while the mothers have the freedom

-to have breakfast and to socialize.

-I started going to

-the breakfast club two weeks ago...

-..to try and get to know more mums

-and for my son to meet other kids.

-I started coming

-because my friends were going.

-I liked the idea of meeting mums

-and dads and grandparents...

-..in an easy-going club where we can

-eat, talk and share our experiences.

-We're given a very warm welcome.

-It's a great resource

-which brings us closer together.

-I came recently

-and met Gwennan here.

-She asked,

-"What are you doing this afternoon?"

-We became friends.

-The chapel

-is like a community centre.

-The nursery meets here

-and several choirs rehearse here.

-We as a chapel organize events too.

-We feed the homeless

-and give them shelter.

-We raise money for refugees and

-the food bank, as many others do.

-It's also some sort of bridge.

-Some ask about Sunday school and

-about baptisms when they come here.

-They feel at home here.

-It's a door to the chapel.

-Anyone else want tea or coffee?

-It's nice to feel

-that everyone's in the same boat.

-That we can talk about

-the same things to each other.

-That's what I enjoy. I've got a lot

-out of it. I hope others have too.

-Parents feel

-that they get spoiled a little.

-They can come here, relax...

-..and we look after the children

-and babies if they want.

-There are toys for them.

-They feel that it's a place

-where they can take a deep breath...

-..and just relax.

-Dear God, help us to remember

-to say thank you every time.

-Help us in the way

-we live our lives...

-..to show that we look after

-those around us.

-And help us to be thankful

-for all the things...

-..that other people do for us.

-On behalf of the children of Wales,

-thank you for our mothers...

-..and for the tireless way

-they care for us.

-Amen.

-Mothers,

-I hope you've been spoiled today.

-It's a day of celebration.

-It's also a day of remembrance

-and contemplation...

-..and to count our blessings

-for that priceless gift, a mother...

-..and to be thankful for her.

-And in my mother tongue,

-I say goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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