Every year a day is set aside to honour all the mothers as Mother’s Day. It is usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Therefore, this year Mother’s day is on Sunday, May 10.
I remember in the past few years when we had a programme on this special day, an individual stood up and raised a question, why mothers are so special to us? This is a simple question. However, it took us more than an hour to discuss and share on this simple question.
A mother is the heart of the family; she is the mediator between the children and the father (the head of the family), said one of the attendants. It is often said that mothers are usually soft and kind and are easily approachable by children. The mother possesses special qualities, which makes the family more meaningful.
Honestly, mother is compared to the heart of the human body. Therefore, as the heart supplies blood to the whole body and keeps the body warm, likewise, the mother keeps the family united and warms with her love and care.
The love of the mother in the family is incomparable and cannot be expressed in words. Hence, for this reason EM Foster once said, “You can replace a wife but not a mother”.
In the good book, God said, “It is not right that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Thus, God created a woman to be his helper. Moreover, the good book presents to us several instances on the speciality of the mother towards her children. Hence, the mother in all circumstances protects her children from harm and danger.
When two mothers came to King Solomon for a judgement over the living child, the real mother did not allow the King’s judgement to harm the living child, instead she willingly gave the living child to the wrong claimant (1 Kings 3:26).
This incident in the good book speaks volumes on the personality of the mother. In this way, a mother brings lots of joy and happiness in the family. Someone has rightly said: “the perfection of a woman is to be mother”.
However, it is unfortunate that the speciality of the mother is often misunderstood and not realised by women in this present generation. A friend of mine once said, “These days, many couples long for marriage, but are not ready to be parents”. Certainly, this saying speaks volumes about our present generation.
On the other hand, to be a parent and mother is a big responsibility in the family as well as in the society. Parents are special to the children and vice versa. Thus, parents can give the children, what money cannot buy.
The role of a mother in the family is so special that we cannot express it in words. She is known for her caring, loving, protecting, sacrificing, friendly, soft and kind nature.
Hence, children find security, love and care within the arms of the mother.
Psychologists say that the first person a child recognises in the world is his/her own mother. In general, when the mother breastfeeds the baby, the baby looks and familiarises himself/herself with the face of the mother. In this way, the child gets familiar with the face of the mother and recognises her as the first person in the world.
So, is this speciality of the mother to be recognised by her own child as the first person in the world? Don’t mothers deserve to be respected and honoured in the family as well as in the society?
Mothers are also known as the best doctors for their own children.
It is often said that a mother’s touch upon her sick child is better than the hands of any medical expert. In fact, breastfeeding of the mother is the best medicine for the child.
In the poem by Maggie Pitmann’s Her Hands, the poet defines the mother as the person of many hands. As a result, the mother is always there to look after her own child. The mother carries a child for nine months in the womb, gives birth, holds a child at first breath, guides the child at first step to walk, wipes the tears while the child cries and is caring in all circumstances.
Therefore, is this not the strength of the mother and do mothers not deserve honour and respect in the society? I would absolutely say ‘Yes’. (Contributed by Airborlang Nongsiej)
