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Ozioma Onyenweaku
It has been one day after another of celebrating the mothers! And many others like my daughter do not believe celebrating a mother should not be based on calendar.
Many people have given reasons on why mothers are point of celebration. Some have said she is the glue that holds it all together.
Leroy Brownlow said “Mother is the heartbeat in the home; and without her, there seems to be no heart throb”
And for Elder M. Russell Ballard “there is no role in life that is more essential than of motherhood”
Lance Conrad said, “I can imagine no heroism greater than motherhood”
“Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved”, so said Erich Fromm
According to J. K. Rowling, any love as powerful as mother’s love for you leaves its own mark.
And to Stevie Wonder, “If love is as sweet as flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love”
Abraham Lincoln said this of his mother: “All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States rightly said “It is the task connected with home that are the fundamental tasks of humanity … If the mother does not do her duty, there will either be no next generation, opr a next generation that is worse than none at all“,
It is not disputable that a mother is essential to human life. One writer rightly posited that “(Mother) is the primary protector for each child’s health, education, intellect, personality, character, and emotional stability”
Regional Summit on Children’s Rights, Burkina Faso concluded with this submission: “when it comes to stimulating a child’s intelligence and curiosity, as well as developing his/her creativity, a mother’s role is vital”
So we cannot celebrate mothers enough.
However, there are ‘mothers’ who are being overlooked in these celebrations. This observation of mine was heightened when I came across, online, a student’s essay on Mother’s Day. That essay, which, unfortunately I do not know the author, sparked this article. I share it here. Please read and let me know your your take on it.
“Today we are asked to write about Mother’s Day. I belong to a village in Bihar, a tiny village where medical and education still seem like a far-fetched dream. Many women die every now and then while giving birth. My mother was one of them too; she could not even hold me in her arms. My father was the first person to hold me, or perhaps the only person. Everyone was sad as I was a girl, and I had “eaten up’ my mother. My dad was instantly asked to remarry but he refused. My grandparents forced him by giving all logical, illogical and emotional reasons but he didn’t budge.
My grandparents wanted a grandson. They threatened him to remarry or else he will be disowned.
He didn’t think twice; he left everything, his acres of land, a good living, comfortable house, cattle and everything that counts for a good life style in a village.
He came to this huge city with absolutely nothing but me in his arms. Life was tough, he worked hard day and night; raised me with tender love and utmost care.
Now I understand why suddenly he developed a dislike for things that I would love to eat when there was only one piece left in the platter … he would say that he hates eating and I I would finish it considering that he does not like it .. but as I grew older I realized the reason and what sacrifice is all about.
He gave me the best possible comforts beyond his capacity.
The school gave him a shelter, a respect and the biggest gift – an admission to his daughter
If love and care defines a mother, then my father fits in there. If compassion defines a mother, my father fits in well in that category too; if sacrifice defines a mother, my father dominates that category. So in a nutshell, if mother is made of love, care, sacrifice and compassion, my mother is the best mother on earth then.
On Mother’s Day, I would like to wish my father for being the best parent on earth. I salute him and say it with pride that the hard working gardener working in this school is my father.
I know I may fail this test after my teacher reads this, but this would be a very small price one would pay towards an ode to the selfless love of my father.”
There are actually ‘mothers’ in male form. Yes, there are fathers performing creditably well the roles of mothers.
They too need to be recognized, appreciated, and celebrated.