Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed
And tears of sweet affection shed
My number…..
When pain and sickness made me cry
Who gazed upon my heavy eyes
And wept for fear that I should die
My mother….
This poem was written by Ann Taylor ( 1783-1866) as a tribute to her mother for her care and love. The poem focused on a mother’s nurturing care during sickness and infancy and the child’s promise to take care of her in old age.
This poem has remained evergreen, ageless, passed from generations to generations. Yes, a mother watches over her child/ children like her entire life depends on it. She wouldn’t want any evil to come close to her children, a mother is always ready to take care of and stand in the gap for her children even with her last breath.
A mother’s place in a child’s life cannot be overemphasized, and that is the simple truth.
Libby can still recall till date how she felt when she got that call from her little niece who lived with her mom. Her niece had called to inform her of her mother’s demise. That was 22 years ago. “The pain is still fresh,” she said.
She continued, “That moment my life froze, everything went still, it was like a pause button was pressed on my being.
My mother was my life, my confidant and my world.
There is no problem she cannot solve. Whenever I am bothered over any issues or troubled, once I tell her, she comes up with solutions. She’s been gone for 22 years, but I still miss her so dearly. I honestly want to be ” her” for my children. Even now, I cannot forget the values, the norms, the discipline and the way she nurtured us.”
Farhan a 45-year old married man describes his mother as a hero, his prayer warrior and power house. These were his words always whenever he and his friends had a cause to speak about their mothers.
Whenever he says these words, some of his friends feel he is too close to his mother and, of course, his response has always been, ” it can’t be otherwise “.
Some of them have asked him how he’s been able to strike a balance between his wife and his mom seeing how strongly he feels about his mother. He told them point blank that he set the boundaries from the onset. He made his wife understand how much he loved his mother and, of course, his mother also extended her love for her children to their spouses both male and female, that is how it should be.
“I always count myself as one of the lucky guys because the unnecessary rivalry between mother-in-law’s and their sons’spouses doesn’t exist in my family”. My mother is an embodiment of sacrifices and all that is good, “he affirmed.
One of Farhan’ s friends and classmate from way back who didn’t enjoy the love and comforting arms of a mother always wished he had a good mother like his friends.
He never spoke about his mother whenever his friends did. One would wonder if his mother is late; she’s not late, she’s still very much alive. But hers is a case of one in a million mothers who aren’t just bothered about their kids. Such women prefer their freedom to being saddled with the responsibility of child care and family matters. His father, however, came to the rescue by making sure that he and his siblings had the best he could give.
At times, he confessed that he didn’t miss a mother’s love as he never experienced it. Would one say he missed out?
Obviously there are women like that, they need to change and re-navigate because there is joy in motherhood.
Mothers are fundamental to life, offering unconditional love, nurturing and guidance that shapes a child’s physical emotional and social development.
A child’s first teacher and primary care giver. She fosters security, teaches core values and supports mental and physical well-being from infancy to adulthood. She knows us before we even take our first breath.
She is the safe place we run to when the world feels too big. Her hugs feel like home, her words calm out fears and her sacrifices often go unnoticed. Mothers aren’t perfect but their love is powerful.
Tomorrow March 15 is the day set aside to celebrate all mother’s. I am sure you agree with me that they are worth celebrating.
If you are lucky to still have her around, please go all out to appreciate her sacrifice and love.
If your mum has gone home to rest, please celebrate her memories. We should celebrate and give kudos to our mothers.
Mother’s Day celebration was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 to honour her mother. After the first official service in 1908, it became a United States national holiday in 1914. We owe our mothers this day!.
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