Croatian model, actress, dancer, and singer Marija Debelic does not celebrate Mother’s Day every second Sunday of May. Instead, she celebrates it every single day.
“Honestly I don’t celebrate Mother’s Day because I treat my mom everyday like it’s her special day. If you ask me, Mother’s Day should be way more often than once a year. I consider being a mother the hardest job and we should give appreciation to our mothers all the time, on a daily basis,” says the 26-year-old who starred in the TV drama Be My Lady and in the films Art of Ligaw and Beauty and the Bestie.
Marija describes her mom, 52-year-old Božena from Zadar, Croatia, as “the best and the strongest woman” she knows. Growing up, Marija remembers that her mom was always there for her especially when she needed help in school work and when she had a hard time during childhood.
“I had problems with reading and some subjects like history and she would always help me even for long hours,” shares the cum laude in Economics and Business Management graduate.
Marija says her mother is not a disciplinarian to her and her siblings Ana, 24, and Ante Toni, 18.
“She never had certain methods of discipline or punishment. She would just always make us feel what’s right and wrong so we basically chose for ourselves. It always works. She would make you feel like you’re responsible for your own actions and if you choose wrong that you’re doing bad for yourself and not for anyone else,” recalls Marija, adding that they just talked when there had disagreements.
Božena was Marija’s age when she became a mother. She knew she was prepared to become a mom as she read books about children and raising them. She raised her children by showing them what can be done right through her example. She taught her children truthfulness, taking care of others, and always looking forward.
Through the years, Marija says her relationship with her mom became stronger. They love having good discussions over coffee and going out for cocktails or wine.
“Just talking with my mom is always an amazing thing. We always have an exchange of quality and intellectual opinions and really good discussions,” beams Marija.
If and when Marija becomes a mom someday, she would like to be just as empathetic, understanding, caring, and patient as her mom.
Marija’s promise is to build or buy her mom a nice house by the sea. She says she will give her mother everything she needs in this world. Božena, on the other hand, does not like any material gift, she is content with the gift of trust she has with her children.