Ode to the mothers

This one goes out to that special lady in our lives. She's the first person we have a relationship with, the one whose cooking we always enjoy, ultimately she's the superwoman in all our lives, in whichever language we each use to call her it all translates to the word mother. 

By the time you're reading this it should be Mothers' day in most parts of the world. Which means it's that Sunday where one gets to shower their mom with affection in whatever form it may take. It could look like a hand crafted Mothers'day card or breakfast in bed or a bouquet of her favourite flowers. This day is a pretty big deal and it leads one to wonder why it is so. 

To answer this I look at my own life and my own mother. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have her around and after taking into account everything that she is to me. I have a very fond relationship with my mother which some may coin as being a momma's boy, the implications of that terminology is a discussion for another time. Be that as it may, upon my reflection it came to me that in all essence my mother is a pillar in my life. She is my support, as I grow she shares the wisdom and experience from seeing more of the sun and moon than I have, so I am less confounded when I'm navigating through life. Sometimes that support may result in a clash of personalities and interest, it takes time for me to see it that even in those moments it pays to listen to your mother although you don't like what she is saying. 

I remember one Saturday I had gone to a children's home a couple of years ago, I was chatting with one boy, I think he was about seven years old. He went on to ask me if I had a mother that took me back for a moment or two. In my mind I was putting together that his situation was different from mine because he didn't get to be growing in an environment where his biological parents were around. Then it dawned on me at the same time that the ladies who worked in this home were called mama meaning mother by these children and they in turn had mothers that loved and cared for them. It's a beautiful thing that those who can mother us aren't restricted by having to be our biological mothers, it can be any virtuous woman that extends care to a child in need to provide the reassurance and guidance they require. 

That being said I want to give a shout-out to those who stand in the space of a mother, the aunts, grandmothers, older sisters, neighbors, teachers and all the women in society that continue to play a role in positively impacting and shaping the young ones around them. You all deserve your flowers. 

Growing up my perspective on how my mom has shifted gradually. I can think of a time when I was five years old and I didn't know how old my mother was and she was just this figure in my life who was always there giving me love and kinder-joy eggs every now and then. I then transitioned from that to see more and more layers of who my mother really was a person and the more anthropomorphised ( if I can say that) she became the more I saw a different calibre of strength she had. She still consistently considered what was best for me despite being tired or hungry or whatever else was going on. I can only imagine the grace it takes to come home from work and then put up with an infant's shenanigans week in week out. 

I don't know a lot about being a mother but I know it's a lot of work. It's a full-time job and there's no retirement from it. I personally know that even at the age of being considered a senior citizen my mother would still nag me to wear more layers of it were cold. I just want to say a big thank you to all the mothers out there who take care of us, who inspire us. If you've forgotten that today is Mothers' day call your mom or any mom that comes to mind and wish them a happy Mothers' day. Happy Mothers' day to any mothers reading this.