Under the Care of a Good Mother
Paek Jong Suk, Winner of Communist Mother Honour Prize, is 80 years old this year. She has three children.
Paek Jong Suk said:
"Bringing up my three children, I paid attention to making them succeed to the family of scientists and contribute to the development of science and technology of the country. And I've taught for 35 years at the thought that mother herself should be a model of her children in order to make them do their duty."
Her father-in-law was an academician in the field of mathematics and her husband, Doctor, worked as a section chief of the State Academy of Sciences until the age of 70.
While caring for her husband, a scientist, and bringing up three children, she worked as a teacher, department head and dean at the Phyongsong Conservatory and took the associate professorship.
Looking at their mother, the three children grew up learning the true meaning of life and patriotism.
Thanks to the benefits of the socialist system, they graduated from universities as they hoped and finished the postgraduate course. They are displaying their abilities at their jobs.
Paek's eldest daughter made hers a class of inventors and a class of winners of University Student Scientific Pursuit Prize and took the first place in a national symposium on educational methods.
Her son made research findings with great economic effectiveness and received a citation of the respected Comrade
Her younger daughter took part in the February 16 Art Prize Individual Contest, a high-class individual contest at home, already in her university days. Like her mother she is working heart and soul to train reserve artistes.
For mothers, there is no greater happiness than seeing their children grow to be pillars of the country.
Saying that the duty of mother does not end after getting her children married, Paek Jong Suk recollected the days when her eldest daughter was writing a thesis for a doctorate.
"My eldest daughter had already become an associate professor and been in a certain position. So she had no idea of writing a doctoral thesis. I advised her to write it that could give a help to the state.
It seemed to take about 5 to 6 years. There were a lot of bottlenecks and difficulties in the course. I gave backing to her to the end, saying: You should never step back from the road you chose. There is a saying that the secret of success is constancy to purpose. If you give up the work you started as it is difficult, the next generation should do it but you can never do so. Every man is said to leave his trace of life. Then, what is it? It is your knowledge. You should not give up for your comfort."
Paek Jong Suk taught her children to work hard for the country and led them not to deviate from the right path in their course of life. Her efforts and merits served as the nourishment for their growth.
"People say the life of communist mother is that enjoying respect and envy of all.
It is the duty of mothers to give birth to her children and bring them up. But the state considers it to be great and holds me up as I brought up my children as scientists and educator.
Now I am 80 years old, but I will do my duty as communist mother and help all my children remain true to their jobs to the last."
The descendants who grew up under the care of such good mothers will hand over the baton of patriotism and loyalty to the next generation and then down through generations. In this way, the future of the country will be built. That is why the mothers are called the first builders of the beautiful future.