Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and to all the mothers out there Happy Mother’s Day. But I don’t think that it is really any more special than any other day. Don’t get me wrong, I think that motherhood is the most wonderful experience in the world. But reserving just one day to thank someone who made you what you are seems a bit underwhelming. Of course in my case, maybe I should change it from Mother’s Day to “Thank God My Children Survived Day”.
Raising children to be self-sufficient, productive adults is a noble achievement and I think I did an okay job. Nobody went to prison and none of them is on the dole. So I did okay, I certainly was not a perfect mother. I lied to my children when the need arose, such as when they were little and wanted candy out of the gumball machines. I told them that the writing on the front of the machines said, “Out of Order”. I sounded so sad and sincere, that it worked every time until they learned to read.
I bullied and terrified them telling them that I was an apprentice working on my mastership to be the meanest mom in the world and I was very close to getting my degree. I told them that I had eyes in the back of my head and could hear a pin drop three blocks away, so they better watch what they said and did. I dealt out justice swiftly, I never once said, “Wait ‘til your father gets home.” I let them play and get scraped knees and elbows. I let them fall down and helped them get back up so that they could fall down again. I told them to rub some dirt on it and get back out there.
I taught them to never be cruel to animals and other children, but at the same time I told them to never back down from a fight. Stand tall, be honest and treat people the way you want to be treated and it will all work out in the end. I told them that the only job they had in this world was to go to school and get good grades. A’s and maybe a B, but nothing less and there better be a really good reason that there was a B. Then we would work on the problem class until we solved the problems. I expected excellence out of them, mediocre was not acceptable. There is nothing wrong with not succeeding, but there is no excuse for not trying, that is the true failure.
As they grew older and started thinking about life, careers and families of their own, I told them that I didn’t care what they did or how much money they made, but to make sure they chose to do something they really loved doing. Because whatever they decided on, they would be doing it for a long time and if they didn’t love it then they would be unhappy for a very long time. I taught them that family is important but not at the expense of self.
I did what I did as a mother not because I wanted accolades or to be their friend. I told them that often, “I am your mother, not your friend, you have enough friends. I am here to guide you, to teach you and to make you into a worthwhile human being. You don’t have to like it or me, but you will do what I say, because I am your mother.”
Cruel wasn’t I?
A woman's view of hunting...with men 
Susan…. You witch….
😉
You’re correct about Mother’s Day, as being underwhelming; it only exists because Congress was notified (by, guess who?….), the Month of May (and June, with Father’s Day…) had no holidays, so the holiday was created, at the behest of the business sector, whose profits suffered in those months… S’truth, both were created solely to pump up the sales of gift items for occasions in those times of the year; not my story to make up….
My own feeling about both days is that folks should be calling their moms & dads every week, at least, or perhaps, if they’re a VERY busy person, once a month? Maybe a gift on their birthdays, a phone call when a raise happens, or flowers just because…. & MAYBE EVEN GO OVER TO THEIR HOUSE AND TALK TO THEM! Occasionally, maybe?
Ah, but, feel guilty if you don’t remember this one day a year, when the government wants everyone to buy stuff, for their moms, or anyone connected to one in some way; they don’t care, as long as the money gets spent….
Sorry, didn’t mean to rant, but, I hate the fact that I can’t call or write to either of mine any more, even though I didn’t always do it enough when they were around… I think we all feel that sometimes, but, it’s better, I think, not to let advertisements on TV make us live our lives according to the corporately sponsored schedule of events they have planned for us…
Sounds to me like you did fine with your kids, & hope they know it… I enjoy knowing my own two appreciate me, and their mom, and never wait until Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day, to call, or come by, or send a token of their thoughts… In fact, it’s now 13 years since I made a deal with my kids, which they have lived up to fully… I told them, if they call me, once in a while (per month if busy, more if not…always explainable…) or let me know via email, or text, that they’re good, and well, and know I’m alive, then they need never buy me another gift for Father’s Day, for I’d get one every time they called… They agreed, and I hear from them often…
Great post, stimulating…
Ned, aka gigoid
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Thank you Ned, It sounds like you did a pretty good job too. And yes I have been called a witch and much worse, but oh well, I got the job done and now they are facing the same thing I did with their children. Karma’s a bitch.
Karma is indeed a bitch… but, a beautiful one, almost terrifyingly so…
I think the best lesson I learned about being a Dad was this, to wit: All you can do is all you can do…. So, that’s what I did, and it worked fairly well, I think… Both of them still talk to me, and actually listen to my advice, even if they don’t always take it…. So, I figure I’m ahead of the game…. Sounds as if you did all you can do, as well…
Take care, & Blessed Be….
You too.