Mother’s Day Musings

As mothers, we know there will be days filled with love, joy, fulfillment, fatigue, and, sometimes, frustration. These emotions are all a part of the beautiful experience of parenthood. Today, mothers are thanked for their enormous efforts to care for and raise their children to be good, responsible, and productive people.

As mothers, many of us realize how hard our own mothers had to work to raise us. Hence, we understand the no nonsense approach that many mothers had to use. Mothers these days have a small, if any, support system and are faced with trying to be everything to their kids. This leaves mothers with less time for themselves for renewal and personal projects. For mothers, the bottom line is that the children’s needs normally come first.

As a mother, you try to do your best, with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that you have. Yet, sometimes we can be critical of ourselves, when normal life challenges happen. So, we mothers have to remember to be gentle on ourselves and to give ourselves a pat on the back when we know that we have really tried our best.

Trying to be a great parent is not easy. Yet, the effort of going the extra mile, as often as you can, without totally exhausting yourself, often has its rewards. Extraordinary patience is necessary to realize these rewards.

Each child is different, and each requires attention to his/her needs. There are physical needs, spiritual needs, emotional, and intellectual needs. Each need must be nourished in a positive way to obtain a positive outcome. Yet, one only has so much time in the day, and only so much energy.

I remember what a priest said during mass on Good Friday. He said "real love often costs nothing less than everything."  That’s what a mother gives real love.  It costs a lot, yet it is worth it.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Angeline Bandon-Bibum