Sometimes we focus too much on the bad things in life but we can only be happy if we live with a positive mind and attitude.

That is the opinion of Loimata Mikaele from Tufulele and Fasito’o Uta.

Aged 35, Loimata is one of the many stay-at-home mothers who has a positive outlook.

“I don’t have a fancy job like other mothers but honestly, being a mother it’s already hard work,” she says to the Village Voice.

“But it’s an amazing job because I get to be with my children and watch them grow up each day.

“I’ve got two children currently attending school and my youngest one stays home with me.” 

Mrs. Mikaele said they are staying at her husband’s family’s place and her husband is the only one who works.

He’s the only source of income for the whole family.

“My husband is a farmer and he sells taros from his plantation at the market to get money for our family.

“It’s enough to get us by each day even though the cost of living is very expensive nowadays.

“It’s good for those who are working but not for all of us which  is why we buy only what we can afford.

“We use that money for food and our children’s school requirements.

“But life for us has been really good and we are blessed.”

Mrs. Mikaele they have most of the things they need except their own tap water.

“As you can see, we are using water tanks which we received as donations from the Red Cross.

“It’s been very long time without a water supply but a family who saw our struggles fetching water every day, felt the need to help us and they did, through Red Cross.

“We can’t get our own tap yet because the pipelines don’t reach to this area where we are staying but we have requested the Samoa Water Authority about this matter and they said they are working on it.

“So we’re in the process of waiting.

“Other than that, we are blessed with so many things.”