'Bigging-up' Mom
Culture Box
Stabroek News
May 12, 2007
How do you describe the woman who has given you everything that is important in life and continues to be your biggest cheerleader? You describe her the way you know how. For some of us she is not just mother but friend, sister, teacher, mentor and a whole host of things.
This newspaper threw out an invitation about a month ago to the public to share anything they wish about their mothers; the response was great, more than 72 letters arrived. But there could have been more because mothers rarely get the credit they deserve and this is an opportunity for many persons out there to 'big up mom'.
It is okay and in keeping with tradition to make her feel special on Mother's Day, or birthday, Christmas and other special occasions but she is special all year round so why wait for a day to show her? If every person out there could take a few minutes out of their day and just do something with mom in mind just think how many women out there will feel appreciated every day of their lives.
Call mom if she is not near even if it is just to say hi; kiss her just because she deserves it; buy her chocolates or give her a rose; cook her a meal; sing her a song; say a prayer for her; do anything that means having her mind. Why? She is mom.
Sometimes people ask what life would be like without mothers. The answer is simple, pretty empty. There are men out there who play the role of mother and should be commended but there is nothing like the real thing. Some people never meet their mothers and go through life hearing how she is, what she was like and the similarities they shared with her. While many of us take ours for granted.
Some smart person once said, "When you educate a woman, you educate a family". Nothing could be truer. Many of us go to school and go on to university and praise our lecturers and teachers for the knowledge they have imparted and we forget that our first teacher was mom. If anyone should get the credit it should be her because those that come after her follow a curriculum that was given to them, she merely followed her instincts. And many of us usually turn out okay.
There are several expletives out there that include the word mother. Why anyone would want to start up a nasty phrase and include the word mother is puzzling but what is sad is that such language has become regular for some people. You know them right?
Mothers deserve our highest respect and the religious among us should know that parents are held with the highest regard. If there was a strict law against dishonouring our mothers many would end up before the courts and imprisoned in some instances.
Something many people do not realize is that when we disrespect any woman we are disrespecting somebody's mother. It might not be our mother but very likely she has children too.