In praise of mothers

This week’s article is dedicated to mothers.

The dictionary appears to have two definitions for “mother.” One is a “female parent” and the other is “a person or thing that is very large, powerful, or impressive.” 

With regard to the latter definition, I do understand that it is necessary to become large to be a mother, but most mothers do not stay that way forever.

Mum is the first human being that all of us come into contact with, and we immediately get to know her as our chief provider of food, warmth, comfort, and protection.

She continues to play this role until death do us part, which is why, even when you are a senior citizen aged 60, Mum is still trying to find out if you are eating properly, wearing socks on cold days, feeling happy, and locking your door at night. Never mind that, having survived until that age, you must have been doing something right.

Becoming a mother changes the life of a woman forever. The same person who previously would go home to change clothes because she has spilled a little coffee on her outfit now willingly embraces her child when his little hands are covered with chocolate and even worse things.

It has been said that you become a true mother when you start cleaning children’s noses with your bare hands, using a bit of saliva to clean around their lips, and when they throw up, catching the stuff in your palm.

Motherhood transforms a girl, whose aversion for the kitchen sink has resulted in the rapid growth of the fast food industry, into someone who dons an apron and exchanges her dumb bells with a chapati rolling pin.

It changes a young woman who previously protected her weekend lie-ins as if they were the Crown Jewels, into a person who wakes up at the crack of dawn, in season and out of season, to ensure that the family starts the day with a good breakfast. No wonder we cannot help loving our mothers.

The relationship between a mother and her children is complex and mysterious. Children are curious about Mum and any mother worth her salt becomes very good at answering questions.

One mother allowed her six-year-old to comb her hair, whereupon the youngster noticed that her mother had a few white hairs. “Why is some of your hair white, Mummy?” asked the child.

The mother, recognising a golden opportunity to correct her child’s behaviour, answered that every time a child does something bad one of her mother’s hairs turns white. “You must have been a very naughty girl when you were little!” gasped her daughter. “I was not” replied Mum, “I was a good girl!” “Then why is of all grandma’s hair white?” asked the little girl.

The many experiences that mothers go through make them a great asset in the workplace. Anyone who can produce a meal with two toddlers underfoot, without burning anyone or anything, qualifies to be a fire safety officer.

A person who can successfully ensure that five neatly-dressed people, each wearing an average of seven items of clothing and carrying assorted items, including documents, sports kits, and lunch packs, leave the house each morning and travel to their desired destinations certainly qualifies to be a project manager.

Anyone who can control several boisterous children in a vehicle caught in gridlocked traffic should definitely be considered to join the army as a sergeant.

However the most noble qualities of mothers are demonstrated during a crisis, when so many mothers show the world that they are literally willing to lay down their lives for the sake of their children.

Whether Mum is young or old, far away or just around the corner, let us all take a little time to appreciate our mothers this Saturday.