Mark Twain had an interesting saying. “My mom had a lot of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” That sounds like a great description for many moms. They put up with so much while never stopping loving.

And there are many other things that we can say about mothers. In many cases, they gave up their career to raise their children. And did you get any thanks for that? Do they ever get the thanks they deserve for all they do for us?

It may be true that many mothers take out the short straw regardless. Is it summarized in the following question and answer? “Do you work, ma’am?” “I am not a housewife”.

And while there are plenty of substitutes for a mother—a babysitter, a nanny, a grandmother, a godmother, and a neighbor—there’s only one genuine article; a mother is a mother is a mother.

its value

Someone once calculated the salary owed to those moms who do the daily routine of cooking, cleaning, preparing lunches, running school, washing, ironing, shopping, taking the dog to the vet, taking the kids to the ballet and basketball, caring for an elderly relative and finishing homework for his offspring. Nobody could afford it. He is owed a small fortune.

However, from a fiscal point of view, mothers are often classified as providers of ‘intangible labour’. Surely that has to be an oxymoron?

In fact, a recent survey of some 12,000 mothers estimated that for all the time and chores moms put into working at home, they should be paid more than $120,000 a year.

But is that the true value of our mom? Can we even think of a price? Just consider what they go through just to become a mother. Many have a hard time when they are waiting. They worry about their child before he is born. They may have a long delivery and all for us to get into this brave new world.

For that alone our eternal gratitude is worth, but the true value of our Mom is just beginning. Like a baby, we are dependent; totally, and many times, sometimes exclusively, from our Mama who feeds, washes, bathes, dresses, entertains and cares for us. We don’t owe him much; just our life.

its longevity

A mom is always a mom. She is never off duty. She may become a grandmother and begin to be a mother again, but she will always treat her child or children like that. She can ask them to leave the nest, kick them out, or beg them to stay, but never forget that she is always your mom.

Some mothers have more than one child. Some have many. And while they may learn various tricks of the motherhood trade, with each new baby they just keep going.

their sacrifices

We have already mentioned the career of a mother and the fact that many mothers totally or partially give up their vocation to be a full-time mother. Then there are many mothers who switch to a less demanding career with work hours that accommodate their children being home after school or on vacation.

And no matter how understanding employers become, no matter how things like job sharing and on-the-job daycare become available, moms still have decisions to make when it comes to a baby and a job.

And in many cases, those mothers who choose to be stay-at-home moms receive inadequate support from governments and other agencies. Because? What greater work, what more important task can anyone perform than lovingly raising her child?

The role, responsibility and importance of a mother has never changed, it’s just that many are now expected to do a second job as well. For thousands of years, there were peasant women working in the fields who stopped long enough to give birth before returning to their task. For them, there was no hospital bed, medical staff, or equipment.

But despite the gigantic advances in medical science, women continue to design, carry, give birth and raise their children. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

his wisdom

Bern Williams is quoted as saying, “Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.” If that is true, the question arises, why? Are mothers wise by nature? Do they have any special insight into the human condition?

They are certainly wise and we would learn a lot if we would only pay attention. Here are some classic examples of mommy wit and wisdom.

• My mother taught me about religion when she said, “You better pray for the stain to come out of the carpet.”

• My mom taught me to be flexible when she said, “Are you going to look at the dirt on the back of your neck?”

• My mother taught me about stamina when she said, “You’re going to sit there until you eat all those vegetables.”

• And my mom taught me to be prepared when she said, “Always wear clean underwear in case you get hit by a bus.”

We cannot quantify the debt we owe to our mother, but we can understand when Olive Schreiner said, “There was never a great man who didn’t have a great mother.”

Happy Mother’s Day (May 13, 2018), to the Moms of the world, with everything you do one day is not enough.

In loving memory of my mom – Mrs. Lilly Green Lewis (1924-2007)