Happy Day Mothers

Stella Wanda Johnson Ratliff

Mom

Mother’s Day

Now this is a day worth remembering. Have you ever considered what it takes to be a Mother? Really! I ask this not to belittle your understanding of the task but to emphasize the breadth of it; this is no mean responsibility.

I am not going to get into the physical part of this. There are some parts of motherhood that, frankly, have left me shaking my head. For example: most females have the physical characteristics required for motherhood somewhere between their 12th and 15^th birthdays. I’m not spending any time here. I don’t know either. Even when you push it up to 18, 19, 20, 21 there is still a lot of responsibility dropped in the lap of the female of our species. This is particularly true when you look at it as a member of Western Culture, America in particular.

If you graduate from High School at 18, go to a four year college and graduate, you are now 22. If you have given any serious thought to taking time to carefully plan your future, children are not likely to be a part of your plans just yet. That would be very true if you were considering a highly skilled career like, Medicine, any science which required a PhD, Politics, Research, in truth almost anything. The exception would be teaching. But if that is your path a Master’s Degree is pretty much required for pay scale and any chance of moving up the food chain in Education. That can be done and has been by many while teaching and being a mom. But, it is not easy.

There is the old biological clock that ticks on and in truth vying for a position in the employment arena that fosters competition, skills development and being active long enough to invite “Luck” into the equation you could easily scratch off another five to ten years. OK, now you are thirty two. If you are skilled, socially adept, competitive, attractive and desirable, you probably don’t want to marry, get pregnant and smear pabulum all over your expensive designer clothing that gets you in the door.

So you could easily be forty before the time would be “right” for a pregnancy break. That is also about the outer limit for most women to take on motherhood. And that may not even be an attractive option at this point. It depends, at least in part on how many children you have been around during your career preparation. And, if you think talking over a belligerent board member in a corporate meeting is difficult, try reasoning with a child three months old with colic.

Look at me. I’m ending my first page and haven’t even gotten to soccer games. This could take a while. And wait until you hear about volunteer time in the food kitchen during games and the driving schedule. Did I mention Band, Scouts, Church, Sports, PTA……..Did I mention nieces and nephews? Oh, and did I ask if you would be doing this as single mom, same sex couple or standard issue straight married couple? Also, are you politically active? And if you are a part of a married couple and fall into what once was called a normal family grouping, will this be a first marriage, an arrangement of convenience or an impregnation with no intended father on premises?

Here’s the point. Mothers are stars, angels, friends, mentors, disciplinarians, coaches, teachers and they do it with love and magic. I miss my mom, admire my daughters for the terrific moms they are and hope you love and honor the women in your lives who hold the title. 

Happy Day Mothers.

©Herb Ratliff May 12, 2013, All Rights Reserved