Never before have the 12 children under Mariyoh Sorheh's care - including her five biological children - celebrated National Children's Day, because as the family's sole breadwinner she has always too busy.
"I feel pity for them … but I can't take them to any event," the Pattani resident said.
"I really don't have any other choice. It's quite a struggle already to fill all the empty stomachs here."
Mariyoh cares for seven of her nieces and nephews, who are either orphaned or have lost a parent as a result of the ongoing unrest in the deep South.
The latest surge in violence has plagued the country's southernmost region for about a decade.
Teenage siblings Rachen and Sewita Sama-ae lost their father in a shooting linked to the unrest nine years ago.
Two years later their mother died in a road accident, resulting in Mariyoh taking them in.
"If I could ask for a gift for them on National Children's Day, I would like to ask that they get a computer," she said. "I know many of their school assignments require the use of a computer."
Thailand celebrates National Children's Day on the second Saturday of January every year. To mark the special day today, several fun-filled events will be held.
Government House will open its doors to children, who will be allowed to sit on Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's chair, while most schools held special activities yesterday.
In Yala, a show was staged at Ban Pong Yeu Rai School.