Kabudlay, Himakas kag Kalipay: Lived Experiences of Single Mothers with Honor Student Children

Abstract

Single mothers are responsible for raising and nurturing their children alone because they have no husband or live-in partner. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of single mothers with honor student children. The participants were six mothers who were single for at least two years, of legal age and had an honor student child. Face-to face semi-structured interviews in local dialect or Hiligaynon with audio recordings were used for data gathering. The researchers secured participants’ consent letter and practiced ethical considerations of the study. The data were transcribed for analysis guided by the Modified Van Kaam’s Phenomenological Method analysis. The findings based on the thematic analysis described the lived experiences of the single mothers with honor student children as “Kabudlay, Himakas kag Kalipay”. The themes were: the first theme is “kabudlay” (having difficulties in life as mother and father) with subthemes difficult situation, and difficult being a mother and father; the second theme is “himakas” (striving hard against difficulties) with subthemes striving hard, and discipline and rearing; and third theme is “kalipay” (being grateful and thankful) with subthemes happiness, thankful to the situation, and thankful and prayerful to God. This study concludes that being a single mother is challenging and becomes even more demanding when the child is an honor student. However, single mothers can persevere through these challenges and experience a sense of gratitude and fulfillment. The phenomenon of single mothers can be being in difficult life situations, striving hard, and being grateful. The study's findings can be used for the programs for single mothers to improve their living conditions.