Moms go through many different emotions, experiences, and roles—sometimes, all at once. But if one was asked what motherhood is all about in one word, what would it be? We asked these mothers what word sums up this beautiful journey that they are on.

Purpose

Prior to having my two children, I was trying to figure out what exactly I wanted in life. Then when I had Tristan and Cara I immediately knew that I wanted to work hard, be the best person and mother that I could be, and give them the best possible future that I could. I wanted to live my life and be a good example for them. That is my priority—being a mother made me realize what was truly important. — Camille Villar—Genuino, Representative of Lone District of Las Pinas , Mom to Tristan, 8, and Cara, 1

Superwoman

Motherhood is a powerful gift that allows one to nurture and love another more than life itself. It is a journey of selflessness and limitless devotion. Motherhood embodies the purest form of love and sacrifice, shaping lives and nurturing futures with every heartbeat. — Ginger Gaddi, Founder of Ginger Event Styling, Mom to Pio, 12, and five-year-old twins Alon and Alab

Adventure

It’s an incredible journey of ups and downs, twists and turns. I go through different experiences at every stage of my child’s life. I have three kids and you think you’ve seen it all but there’s always a surprise—and whether good or bad you end up learning something new. At the end of the day, I hope I’ve become a better mother and a better person because of it. — Niña Corpuz-Rodriguez, Anchor at Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon and Health@Home, PTV4, and founder of Nina Inabel, Mom to Stella, 12, Emily, 9, and Luke, 6

Gift

Motherhood brings a swirl of emotions—you can be immensely happy and proud one minute, and, the next, so confused and anxious about your kid and their future. Yet, you manage, because your son is looking up to you as their role model so you keep trying to be a better version of yourself. Motherhood forces you to grow as a person: developing patience and discovering the ability to love like you have never before. And as I figure out my own life while nurturing the life I gave birth to, I realize that being by my child’s side as he unlocks new milestones—big or small—is the best gift, one that I wouldn’t exchange for the world. — Denice Sy, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., Mom to Jake, 5

Joy

Motherhood has filled my heart to the brim and it has just kept on overflowing ever since. I’m happiest when I’m with this sweet, caring, kind, and funny boy. Seeing him explore the world, experiment and get mind blown is just so fascinating. I hope he grows up to be an amazing human being who gets to share so much love and happiness with others. — Melissa Yeung-Yap, Artist, and CEO of Greenstone Pharmaceutical, Mom to Yevin, 8

Transcendence

As a mom for 27 years and one about to enter the almost-empty nester era, it's become more real to me that motherhood is a series of many beginnings and many endings. At every stage, we have new experiences with them, and then in the blink of an eye, they grow and go onto the next stage, never to revert back again. So with each stage, we moms inevitably become masters at dealing with change, of learning to let go so our kids can grow, of learning to trust rather than trying to control, of realizing sooner or later that we can now learn more from our children rather than us trying to teach them. Soon we learn that motherhood plus our egos will never be a good combination!

I see motherhood as a transcendence because being a mom means with each stage and at a certain point, we need to transcend and go beyond our egos—go beyond our fears, our expectations, our own dreams for them, and maybe even hidden agendas—and trusting that we've laid a good foundation, and just pray for their protection and divine guidance. As tough as it is, for our children's sake, motherhood is a transcendence of our "selves," and when we allow this to happen, we'll see that all that's left is love. — Janice Villanueva, Founder of Mommy Mundo and Mompreneurs Together, Mom to Coby 27, Zach 24, Reese 18

Fulfillment

Motherhood often challenges me to grow personally and allows me to create a strong bond with my child. The act of nurturing and caring for a child can be incredibly rewarding. In a nutshell, motherhood completes me. — Kato Lim, Co-founder of Momzilla, Mom to Georgie, 8

Nurturing

It's not just about raising children; it's a profound journey of self-discovery, growth, and commitment. For me, motherhood has been a transformative experience. Growing up with only one parent, I found myself taking on maternal responsibilities early on. But it wasn't until I became a mother myself that I truly understood the depth of this role.
Motherhood has pushed me to strive for personal improvement, to become the best version of myself for my family. It's grounded me, giving me a new perspective and challenging me to see the world through my children's eyes.
Yes, there have been moments of frustration, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Being a mom has brought unparalleled fulfillment to my life, making every sacrifice worth it. — Kim King, Nutritionist and entrepreneur, Mom to Storm, 7, twins Sky and Soul, 4, Arkus, 2, and Sin who they are expecting

Password

The style of mothering may vary but one of the constants is this: Mothers protect, which is what passwords do. Among many things, mothers protect the magic of childhood and exploration of growing years. Mothers aim to carve out an environment that is safe so that children may thrive or simply discover who they are. In this day and age where the world is so open due to technology, motherhood as a password means allowing children to be who they are at the right stage in their lives, free from unwanted access. — Beng Navarro-Feliciano, Co-founder of The Parenting Emporium, Mom to Nico 16, and twins Carly and Summer, 14