This week culminates with the celebration of Mother’s Day – a day to honor deserving mothers. My mother Betty is living. My wife Sherry is a mother. Our daughter Brittany is a mother. And within the next couple of weeks our son Kris’ wife, Cara, will be a mother. Some thoughts on being a Mother from a grateful son, husband and father! And therapist.

I am fascinated with life’s unfolding of a human being, including the stages reached and the adjustments made over the course of a lifetime. No person goes through more physical, emotional and spiritual changes than a mother.

Perhaps the journey begins with “Ohmygod, I’m late – missed my period!” Is that good or bad news? Depends on the readiness state and stage of the girl/woman involved.

Conception has happened. Her whole being is stirred up. The body expands, breasts and belly, getting ready to welcome and nurture the child. Emotions run the gamut as hormones and life situations play out. The spiritual element of being a co-creator of a baby can be exhilarating. The miracle of life!

The bittersweet painful and joyous birth is deeply experienced—hopefully accompanied by a loving mate and eager-to-be father. Together a loving couple welcomes their child into the universe. This is the ideal, I know, but the ideal is always the goal.

As the child grows, develops and tastes the varied menu of what life serves up, a mother is “with” the child like no other. The child came from her body where, hopefully, she nurtured him/her with a healthy life style and a loving welcoming heart.

Infancy, nursing, the during the night “get ups,” the “terrible twos,” playtime, day care, going off to kindergarten, middle school, puberty with all its upheaval, high school drama and “where did the time go” empty nest”—and all the varied events and emotions therein—significantly impact a mother. And mothering is not finished here, even as the adult child moves on through life. Mothering continues forever.

Highs and lows, fear, anger, sadness, sacrifices—wrapped in love are a mother’s journey. Hopefully, the trail has been one mostly of happiness and overcome sorrows. Hopefully, the child has matured into a loving, responsible, happy and grateful adult. Hopefully, the child/adult is appreciative of what his/her mother has put into her job of parenting. Hopefully, the child’s father is grateful for what the mother has given the child, and him, through her efforts.

And, hopefully, sons, daughters, and mates will join me in a well-deserved HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Thank you, Mom, Sherry, Brittany, and Mother-to-be, Cara, for your nurturing motherly gifts!

P.S. If you are a mother who has not done a good job of mothering yet—please turn it around and be the wonderful mother you are capable of being and receive the commendations worthy of your efforts.

 

Dr. Stathas can be reached at 706-473-1780; e-mail: Stathas@plantationcable.net; web site: DrStathas.googlepages.com; blog: drstathas.com.