A MOTHERS HONOURED ROLE

HOW HONOURARY ARE MOTHERS?

A mother's role has often been unappreciated and even belittled. A few decades ago, some people began to demean the role of caring for children. Their view was that it was less important than a career and was even a form of oppression. While most would find that attitude extreme, mothers are commonly made to feel that being a homemaker and caring for children is a second-class occupation. Some even feel that a woman needs a career outside the home in order to realize her full potential.

Yet, many husbands and children have come to appreciate the mother's role in the family. A young man from Philippines called Carlos once said, " I am here today because of the training my mother gave me. Mother helped us by explaining and reasoning things out. I really appreciate her way of teaching."

Peter, in South Africa, is one of six children who were raised by a mother with a limited education. His father had abandoned the family. Peter reflects: "As a maid and a janitor, Mother did not earn much. It was difficult for her to pay school fees for all of us. Often we went to bed hungry. It was a challenge for her just to keep a roof over our heads. In spite of all these difficulties, Mother never gave up. She taught us never to compare ourselves with others. Were it not for her courageous commitment, we would never have made it through life the way we did."

A Nigerian husband, Ahmed, expresses how he feels about his wife's assistance in raising their children: "I appreciate my wife's role. When I am not at home, I have confidence that the children are well cared for. Instead of feeling challenged by my wife, I thank her and let the children know that they must respect her just as they respect me."

A Palestinian man readily praises his wife's success as a mother: "Linda has accomplished a lot with our daughter and contributes much to the spirituality of our family. From what I can see, her success is due to her devotion to our religious beliefs."