Nigeria, May 2 -- They say every story has two sides. But in many homes, especially African homes, perhaps even globally, only one is ever truly heard.

The nurturing, sacrificial, ever-loving mother becomes the bedrock of childhood nostalgia. She is immortalized in memory, sanctified in speech. Songs are sung in her honor. Tears fall at the mere mention of her name. She is the heartbeat of the home, the soul of the story.

We find comfort in that narrative, and so we cling to it. We canonize mothers, casting them as selfless saints, keepers of warmth, endurance, and grace. We remember the bedtime stories, the quiet strength, the relentless sacrifices. We turn their names into scripture. We speak of them with reverence and longing.They ar...