I'm still confused about why we have a Mother's Day. That is to say, a single day to celebrate Mom. Again, it's a whittled-down, brunch-heavy version of ancient goddess worship. From Isis to Gaia to Rhea to Tyra, societies spent much of their time in loving fear of these females. Their hope was that they wouldn't be in trouble if mom got home before they had a chance to clean up their attempt at painting their bedframe with Tempera paint and a squirt bottle. Really, really should have taken it outside.
Mothers have hard work. A lot of moms put their back into it, led by their hearts, and their love of not being labeled a "bad mother." Some don't give a shit and their kids - as well as everything and everyone their kid drags their whiny ass across - suffers for it. Lazy parenting is worse than overbearing parenting. And good parenting, from what I can tell, is like a game of OPERATION in bumper cars, where the kid is the Bread Basket, and those little electrically active tongs are the "no, no, no, stop, No, come HERE, NO." That buzzer is judgment. And it comes loudest from within. But a healthy dose of public shame never hurt anybody's ability to maintain an erection.
I've seen it up close as my wife (and I, when I'm not being a full idiot) raise our son. Being close to the action and seeing how each day our boy has a new trick up his sleeve, has solved a harder puzzle, can put on his shoes, cleans up his eating area, has 2 new words is pretty amazing. And it comes from the EFFORT and ENERGY that is repetitive parenting and teaching. It's Love. My wife Loves our son, and it shows in how he laughs, jumps, and demands! to be thrown into the piled-up pillows, Dada. NOW NOW!
And he's got a Mimi, Nana, Gamma, and Titi all loving on him, too. All the Moms in his circle, teaching and loving and being good to him. While I miss the weather of our son's birthplace, I would have missed, even more, seeing him bond with 3 grandmas, 1 official aunt, and a loving swarm of other women. My wife, his Mama, is really doing a great job on a daily basis.
Moms put their back into the work because of love. Some moms just sit on their ass and parent by TV or by Nanny or by relative. And that, my friends, is where we get the best reality TV.
If you're reading this you probably had a good mom, or a mom good at hiding her coping mechanism. You made it, Adult. It's up to you to pay her back well, and all you offer is BRUNCH?
You should be ashamed. It would make your mother so proud.
