Decoding A Mother’s Daydream

Pedro Odubayo Thompson
2 min readMay 12, 2024

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As Mother’s Day approached, I found myself spending most of the day before congratulating the mothers I knew. It was a pleasant task, but it consumed much of my time as I meticulously searched my phone for the right people to acknowledge. I made sure to avoid names of those I wasn’t certain were mothers, aiming to avoid any potential embarrassment.

Photo by Julia Sandowska on Unplash.
Photo by Julia Sandowska on Unsplash.

Preparation and Exhaustion

The Friday before had been particularly hectic and exhausting due to work, so I decided to reserve Saturday for this task. However, midway through, I realized I needed to stock up on some food items. I promptly headed to the supermarket to get what I needed. Upon my return, my stomach was growling, and I wasted no time in preparing a quick meal. I heated a frying pan, opened two cans of sardines, chopped onions and garlic, added some parsley leaves, RAO’S tomato, and a Maggi Vegetable Cube. Voila! My sauce was ready. I remembered I had some boiled unripe plantains, a dish I particularly enjoy; my lunch was ready in no time.

The Afternoon Dream

After enjoying my meal along with a glass of wine, I decided to lie down on the couch and rest for a while. I cannot say how long it took for me to drift into an afternoon nap, but suddenly, a mysterious dream unfolded.

The Dream Sequence

In the dream, I felt threatened and found myself trying to shout out for help. Strangely, my voice seemed to fail me, even though I could hear people outside who could potentially come to my aid. I found myself repeatedly calling out, “Mama, mama, mama…” But which mama I was referring to, I couldn’t discern. In the dream, I could see my late stepfather and a woman in the distance. The woman was black and didn’t resemble my late mother. It was also not my late white wife, whom I used to call “mama” most of the time when she was alive.

Reflection and Interpretation

The dream left me feeling both amused and troubled. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was any message, meaning, or reason behind it. Was it perhaps nature’s way of saying thank you because I had spent the day before congratulating mothers on their special day? As someone whose own mother is no longer alive, I made sure to take a moment to express gratitude and use the occasion as a Remembrance Day for all that these mothers have done for us. Thank you, Mothers.

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Pedro Odubayo Thompson
Pedro Odubayo Thompson

Written by Pedro Odubayo Thompson

Pedro is a man of few days who strives to encourage critical thinking, promotes social justice, and endeavors to leave a lasting legacy behind.

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