Mother’s Day
This has been written about Mother’s Day:
[A mother’s work is] a job that is ever-changing and frequently exasperating. Moms don’t get days off, nor do they receive handsome salaries or generous pensions. Instead, their rewards come in the form of sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the satisfaction of seeing their children grow up to be happy, healthy adults. That’s probably not adequate compensation…
My vantage point on the role of a mother is from a distance. I am a male. Years have passed and I have had opportunity to reflect upon “the work” of being a mother. Compensation is not a term that figures into the task. Life has constraints, obligations that we embrace because we must, and — we do our best. That seems particularly so with respect to a female who bears a child. What strength does it take for a woman to bear a child for nine months and then to give birth? More than I can imagine. What does it take, day by day to nurture a fragile, initially helpless human to maturity some twenty years into the future? A high risk project indeed!
Kudos to my mother who I still miss a great deal. What she gave to me is precious, endlessly paying dividends in my adult life. Moreover, I am awestruck at the accomplishment of my wife, who did the heavy lifting of parenting for our three children who have children of their own now. I would award her a 1st prize for “parenting success.” I am fortunate to be associated with her.
For a succinct description of the history of Mother’s Day CLICK HERE. The story is worth reading. Also, worth reading is the article published in 1870 by poet and suffragette Julia Ward Howe, which became known as The Mother’s Day Proclamation.
