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I WAS REMISS
Monday May 9, 2016
Praise for mothers should not be limited to one day a year.
So I’m going for two.
Yesterday I thought I should write something about mothers – so I did: SOMETHING ABOUT MOTHERS.
For those who liked it, here’s some more.
For those who thought I dug myself a hole, sometimes we just have to keep digging …
Make no mistake, I like women.
Love ’em. OK, not all. Not every. But many.
Women are fantastic. Mothers are their hybrid versions, filled with skills, attributes and foibles – like everyone, mothers are not exempt.
I was remiss in my column yesterday – not commenting on mothers who have not given birth.
This includes women who adopt, women who have a surrogate, step-moms and other forms of mothering – they deserve praise too. And this adds to my dismay/failure to understand women, because we see all around us so many mothers who are mothering, step-mothering and grand mothering someone else’s children, offering nurturing and understanding they need – to children they neither carried or bore. Again, this is an area where men – this one anyway, admit to appreciating it intellectually but without understand the feelings of it. It just is.
To these other mothers, you are in no way less worthy of praise, recognition and admiration that you are superior to males in so many ways. Not in all, but certainly in mothering, parenting – and we are in your debt too.
To those who aren’t mothers, whether or not you are happy about that status, you had a mother too – and in this aspect, we must all be united, that someone saw fit to bring us to life.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: Fire update – the ‘beast’ still burns, though diminished by cooler weather and some rain – heading east and north-east, leaving Fort McMurray alone. For now. Utility workers and government officials are inspecting damage, assessing ‘returning-plans’, repairing utility services and dousing flare-ups. Still, likely weeks until people return, months until the beast is extinguished, likely years until that community is made whole again. Still, it seems like every Canadian is suddenly a citizen of Fort McMurray, the way fans cheer a beleaguered underdog fighting from behind in game seven, never giving up, never giving in. This IS being Canadian.
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 4C/39F, mixed-media clouds, rain predicted – strong chilly breeze was great at our back, not so much fun coming back! Gusta always likes the wind in her coat and so many smells going by her twitching confused nose …
Reader feedback:
SOMETHING ABOUT MOTHERS
Love this post. I truly appreciate your efforts to understand and decode the mystery of motherhood. I laughed and was touched. Thank you. Take care, EO, Vaughan, ON
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