Mother's Day Falls Short of Proper Honor
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
“No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed. I have known mothers who remake the bed after their children do it because there is wrinkle in the spread or the blanket is on crooked. This is sick.” – Erma Bombeck
It’s Mother’s Day, a time to honor our mothers who are still with us or remember the ones who have gone on before us. For some of us, this is good, but not so much for others.
Mother’s Day is one of those strange holidays where many folks set aside a few hours to have lunch with their mom, or devote an hour on the phone if miles between are too great.
But it’s also a time that offers too brief moment to properly acknowledge the never-ending role of motherhood.
Like proclamations of “Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men” tossed about for a couple of weeks during the Christmas season with little thought to the idea, Mother’s Day is relegated to a far more restricted single day of well wishes.
Mother’s Week might at least offer more opportunities for special meals at restaurants and more available hours for spending time and expressing appreciation for those mothers who did their best.
Mother’s Day was initially a kind of consolation prize for women asking for equal rights, something which remains elusive.
Motherhood is a demanding job, one that has been co-opted to include additional duties which have little to do with raising children.
That prime directive has been made more difficult with expectations that a “good” mother be a pre-eminent housekeeper, accountant, laundress, fashion expert, social secretary, and other demands that often leave the children relegated to one or more to-do lists. And for god’s sake, don’t make any mistakes.
Loving children, keeping them safe and making them feel safe, remains the ultimate goal of motherhood. This challenge has faced every generation of mothers since the Cain and Abel, which even with little distraction managed to go rogue.
The demand of urgent things that cry for attention have made this challenge even greater.
If you have a mother who is still around who loved you and made you feel safe, thank her today. I am grateful for my own mother, and appreciate her than she might imagine.
My wife also sacrificed much to make sure our two children understood that they are loved and valued. Both are grown, but she still makes regular efforts to remind them they still have a cheerleader at home.
For single mothers on this day, the demands are multitude and they deserve so much more than flowers and a card today. If you know a single mom, call her today and tell her you think she’s great.
