I have heard some people say their mother was nurturing in an animalistic way, meaning she covered the basics of providing nourishing food, clean clothing, and Band-Aids upon skinned knees. Others relate their mother may have been lacking in those typical motherly qualities just mentioned but she offered a heightened sense on the meaning of life or how best to survive in it. Both examples are fine and both are realistic roles women play in the upbringing of their children.

Personally I believe a mother is a woman who has great aspirations for her children. With nerves of steel, she endures rebellious and hostile situations her growing children may put her through because she keeps her eye on the future. Learning as she goes, she puts hope and faith that somehow her communication techniques will win out and that in the end she will have provided her children with a broad sense of what is takes to succeed.

I have a feeling many mothers harshly criticize themselves for not being a super mom. These women fret and worry during moments of reflection and wish they could turn back the clock and do many things differently in regards to raising their children. Being a mother is a tough job to be sure. It’s not glamorous by any means and it often is a job with no proper accolades freely given by the very individual who benefits the most, the child. Perhaps that’s why a national day of honoring the mother was originally created.

As nice as it is for children to present their mother’s with gifts of appreciation, I speak from the standpoint of being a mother myself and say there is something far better than to receive a bouquet of pretty flowers. Watching your children grow into happy, self-sufficient adults who, with unbridled determination, strive to reach high goals is one of many ways a woman receives motherly satisfaction.

Speaking from the standpoint of being a child however, I do understand why children want so much to please their mother’s with a fine gift. Looking back on our childhood years, we feel we have to offer something tangible to show appreciation for her heroic efforts and knowing all she did for us.

In the motherly sense, my mom was larger than life and wore shoes that I doubt many could fill. Always putting her children above herself, I am quite sure there were numerous moments when she must have been exhausted but still she did what she had to do. More than that, she fulfilled her motherly duties while keeping an upbeat, happy attitude. She loved mothering her kids and making each and every one of us feel special in our own way. Even now as my siblings and I have aged, she still offers the same unconditional commitment. Thanks mom.

By definition, the first entry for mother is that of being a female parent. Not found in the dictionary are the situations where being a motherly figure is something more than having the privilege of enduring labor pains. Excluding the obvious extended parental caregivers such as adoptive or foster parents, there are many women who offer some sort of nurturing to kids who are by scholarly definition, not their birth children. Aunts, teachers, neighbors, and family friends can fit the description of a female person who might make a profound impact on any child’s life.

Take a moment this Sunday or any other day of the year and let a special woman know she has influenced your life in a positive way.

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