WFWP Canada hosts 7th Annual Mother-Daughter Tea Party

Written by: Christine Ranisavljev

The Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Canada held its 7th annual Mother-Daughter Tea Party on Sunday, May 28th, 2023 in person and on Zoom in Toronto, Canada. There were 33 people in attendance in person, and nine attended online. The topic of the event was “The Power of the Mother-Daughter Relationship: Modeling & Influencing.”
The opening remarks from WFWP Canada President, Mrs. Lilly Tadin, reminded the audience that they were there to celebrate the many beautiful and challenging relationships between mothers and daughters.  

“As mothers we always give, give without ceasing.” - WFWP Canada President, Mrs. Lilly Tadin

The first guest speaker, Mrs. Rosary Escano, Filipina Women’s Network, credited her own artistic nature to her mother’s character. Her mother exposed Mrs. Escano and her three siblings to numerous films like The Sound of Music and The King and I. Her mother also taught them good manners and the right conduct. The Escano family were food lovers and loved to cook because of their mother’s talents in the kitchen.  

“My mom lived vicariously through me.” - Rosary Escano 

When Mrs. Escano and her siblings met socially, they would laugh because they noticed that they now behaved in similar ways to their mother, something which, in their younger days, they vowed never to imitate.  
Mrs. Escano had this to say about the mother-daughter relationship:
1. Self awareness is key to a good relationship.

2. Faith and prayer are very valuable to the relationship.

Ms. Banu Siva, Project Coordinator for Senior Tamil Society of Peel, believes the relationship between mother and daughter is the strongest of the bonds. Her parents left India for Canada in their 40’s leaving behind good jobs and security for a better life for their children.  

“My mom is a true example of hard work.” - Banu Siva

Ms. Siva told the audience that when she and her mother argue, it is more often that Ms. Siva gives in, leaving her craving for her mother’s acknowledgment and praise. She understands why her mother doesn’t offer praise to her. It is for fear of spoiling her.   
Now that Ms. Siva is taking care of her elderly mother, she has noticed that now their mother-daughter relationship has been reversed. She has a great appreciation for her mother.

Ms. Evelyn Stewart, Coordinator of WFWP Canada, had dedicated parents who were not united as a couple. She grew up in a safe environment but always had a sense that there was something more. When her father passed away she brought her mother to live with her and her family to have the experience of caring for her children. Her mother had the opportunity to let go of the resentment of men by loving her son. Evelyn overcame all the difficulties in her heart seeing her mother regress into a gentle child. 

“Your mom, whoever she is, whatever way she treated you…that’s the very best she could do. She was missing a lot of her own preparation for being a mother.” - Evelyn Stewart 

Ms. Stewart revealed that you have to be very prepared to be a parent. She advised that instead of arguing and judging them, we should appreciate them. When you fill their reservoir they will have lots to give.  

Ms. Nana Whyte, an International Business Marketing student at Sun Moon University, gave a video testimony to a mother’s love. She is the recipient of the Sun Moon University Scholarship in Korea. Her mother would call her every single day and ask her what she ate and how her day was. Her mother would encourage her not to give up on her dream of attending Sun Moon University.  

“Mother’s are everything for us.” - Nana Whyte

The event concluded with a question and answer session and group photo.