Mothers

Sunday is Mother's Day in this part of the world, at least it is one day set aside each year to celebrate one's mother.

For men, there is also Father's Day in June to return the favour!

There are probably as many different types of mothers as there are women on this planet.

Unfortunately, not all are the nurturers one hopes would conjure warm and fuzzy feelings at the mere thought of them.

All are human to be sure, with the frailties that state of being brings.

Some women have been fortunate to have had an excellent role model in their own childhood, and they become 'naturals' it seems in the realm of motherhood.

Others become parents accidentally and are ill-prepared for the lifelong task.

Most fall somewhere between the two extremes.

Those who embrace the role passionately, usually thirst for knowledge and spend countless hours learning all they can with respect to raising children.

When there are past unresolved childhood issues, these can surface, most at a subconscious level, as mothers guide or merely observe their boys and girls as they enter each stage of development.

Opportunities for personal growth are afforded when this happens, or conversely unconscious inner turmoil can create trauma influencing parenting decisions affecting their children.

Now that I am a mature woman with adult children of my own, I recognize that my mother was an individual who did her best with what she knew while raising me and my siblings.

In her elder years before her death, my mother's youthful personality came to light after years of being submerged while caring for others.

She was of a generation of women who believed caregiver was mostly synonymous with martyr.

Fortunately I learned the fallacy of this belief, although not before experiencing some of its negative consequences.

Self-caring is what enables one to be a healthy caregiver.

Whatever type of mother one has/had, the most important reason to celebrate Mother's Day is to express gratitude for the woman who brought a life into this world &/or the woman who parented that individual, you!