"Mothers"

My mother died in 1993. She smoked herself to death. Many times I asked her to stop smoking but often she told me with total conviction that stopping smoking would kill her faster than continuing to smoke. She told me this just one day after one of the lobes of her lungs was cut out and she was facing radiation treatment. I knew right then what true addiction was all about. I was not angry with her when she died. She made her choice and few survive cancer a second time. Still and all, I knew I would miss her and I have missed her, often, especially at the holidays.

Here is why mother's are special. They have the hardest work to do, bearing children, managing a household, working in many cases, and then still be a wife, daughter, sister, friend, co worker and relative. I know, I know... this is the 21st Century and the man contributes to the care of children and the household BUT still who can argue that it is mom in most cases the life line of a child. They have life created inside them, share life with the baby and go through hell bring the baby into the world. In most cases they willingly take this on and then the hard job of raising the child to boot.

Oh by the way moms also have to still be wives, and that means in some cases taking care of the older child in the household (husband). I don't know why more men don't step up to the plate and roll up their sleeves and share the load. Some do and more do now than ever but often the viewpoint is the kids are the woman's purview. Plus, women in general, must have the courage to love in the face of not getting much love back. Sherwood Anderson the American author said in his classic book, Winesburg, Ohio that women have a special quality that men do not have; the courage to love when they do not get love in return. He says men would be lost if they didn't have the love of a woman. That love can be romance or a mother's love for their kids.

So men, forget the goofy, flowery mother's day card. It's no where near enough. You march right into the room and tell your wife or your mother or both this, "With out your love I wouldn't be half the man I am today, and all the sacrifices you have made, and the patience you have shown me is not only noticed by me, appreciated by me but without it my life wouldn't be as happy". That is what I would tell my mother, and my wife, if I had the chance.

You younger men, tell your wives during pregnancy and after delivery that she is still the vision she was when you met her and you wouldn't want to take any other woman to the dance but her.....ever...still.
Happy mother day to all you courageous women out there.