Mom – A Thank You To All Of The Women Who Make Us Who We Are

Mom – A Thank You To All Of The  Women Who Make Us Who We Are

Another Mother’s Day has now come and gone, but lying awake on Sunday night, a thought came to me… How do we really value our mothers and the undoubted mark they leave on each of our lives? If you visited any social media site of your choosing on Sunday, you surely encountered the incredible outpouring of love, admiration, and respect heaped on mothers from across the world.

 There were old photos, priceless memories, and carefully crafted soliloquies each drafted in honor of the women who help our lives make sense. But what does it really mean to be a mother and do we appreciate that gift outside of the one day of the year dedicated to these wonderful women? 

On Mother’s Day 2014, my wife and I were ecstatic to learn we were going to be parents, and two years later, she never ceases to amaze me with her loving dedication and commitment to her role as a mother. In our house, the name “Mama” holds a special meaning. It was one of the first discernible phrases the girls spoke, but recently it has taken on new meaning. 

Now, whenever my energetic and boisterous 17-month-old twins want something, they incessantly chant, “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma…” which can be equal parts adorable and annoying. I even asked my wife one day, “How does it feel to have your name equated to, ‘I want something?’” 

But if you really start to think about it, this makes perfect sense. 

Almost instantly, infants learn their mother is a source of comfort and care. This phenomenon does not end there, as any father can attest, children have days where the only source of comfort to soothe them is mother. If you have ever seen my wife and I out and about, with her tirelessly lugging both of our girls, trust me…I tried to help, but in that moment, for those girls, it is Mama or nothing! 

No matter our age or place in life, our mother always represents a place of support and safety. In times of need, we turn to Mom for advice, for relief, or just for a big hug. She is our biggest cheerleader, she is our first teacher, she is the very framework who shapes the people we become. Sounds like something deserving of more than just one day a year, right? 

And it doesn’t stop with mothers. Think about all of the other women who have played a role in your story. It may be grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, or just dear friends, but regardless of their official title, they are all there when we need them. My Aunt Wendy never had children of her own, but for my younger brother and me, she played the role of comforter and supporter just the same. 

Despite living more than four hours away from us, she was at soccer games, birthdays, graduations, and, last fall when I needed legal assistance, she came to my aid without a moment’s hesitation. Each of these women play a vital role in our lives. They provide us with beauty, grace, and compassion in a manner that is selfless and awe-inspiring. Without them, we would truly be lost. 

My mother once made a statement to me that I am certain many of you have heard as well, “One day you will understand.” At the time, I am certain my behavior was selfish, immature, and petulant all at once, but she calmly and lovingly reassured me that one day, her actions would make sense. 

Maybe it is because I have grown up, or maybe because I am now a father, but whatever the reason, I do now understand my mother’s actions…and I cannot believe how little credit and gratitude I have given her in return over the years. 

So this piece is dedicated to her and all of the other mothers who give their heart and souls to care for each of us, while expecting nothing in return. So to Tammy, Martha, Virginia, Ara, Wendy, Marilyn, Trinia, Karen, and of course Robin, the rock and heart of our family, thank you and we love you. This year, instead of waiting around for the next Mother’s Day, let’s all do what we can to celebrate the amazing women in our lives…after all, they deserve at least that!