Mothers

It is the month of May. A special month for mothers everywhere as Mothers Day is in May. May is also a special month for my mother. She was born in the month of May. She will be 74 years old this month. In honor of my mother I would like to share a few memories of my growing up years. I am glad I grew up in a time when mothers were stay at home moms and most moms didn't work outside the home. My mother was always there for me. She kept our home clean, did laundry, sewed, ironed, cooked and baked, washed and dried dishes, and many other chores that women do around the home. My mother was always there for me to get me off to school in the mornings. She was there when I came home for lunch when I was in elementary school. At the end of the school day my mom was there for me. My mom baked cupcakes and cookies for school parties. She was a room mother and attended PTA meetings. She sold Avon in our neighborhood and I was able to go with her to sell and deliver. I didn't realize it when I was growing up how secure and safe I felt knowing my mother would always be home for me when I returned from school or an outing.

My Mother

For thirty two years now I have also been a wife and stay home mom. At times my feelings would be in a turmoil over whether I should go to work so we could have more money or whether I should just keep on being a stay home mom. After all these years I can finally feel at peace with my feelings and I am glad I always chose to be a stay home mom. The other day I read in my daily devotional, "Beside the Still Waters", a short story by Lehman Martin about women and the home. I read "When women desire careers the home suffers and the world becomes a worse place. Children and homemaking are being neglected". I agree that "children and homemaking are being neglected". I feel family values are being lost because children are being sent to day care centers and being raised by complete strangers. Some working women need to hire a maid to come in and do the housework they don't have enough time to do because of working. Some housework might not even get done at all because there is no time or energy after working. What is happening to family now a days? Children go home from school to an empty house with no one to guide them in right or wrong. No one to greet them and help with homework or just have someone to talk to about their school day or any problems they might be having.

It is not my intention to put working women down or to make anyone feel guilty. I am mad at the world which has forced many women into the work force. Some women need to work because they are single parents. There are some who value the dollar more than their children. I think the world needs to make an evaluation of what is important in the world. Is it family or money? Maybe there would be less divorce in the world if family values were put first instead of working for money. Maybe there would be less teen disobedience if family values were put first instead of working for money. Sure, there are times when I feel jealous because a family with both parents working has more than my family or they can go on a vacation every year because both parents work and bring home the money. They have nicer homes and can afford things and not have to save for years to buy. But what is the price to pay for this? Not being there when your child learns to crawl, say their first word, takes their first step. Not being there after school and children come home to an empty home to entertain themselves. Then they grow up and have children and do not understand the value of family. And it starts all over again, having children and having strangers raise them until they are old enough to attend school. Then these children go home to an empty home where they are left to amuse themselves and if any get themselves into trouble then everyone wonders why.

I cannot change the world. I do not think the world will get better. But I hope I made my children feel secure in their growing up years as my mother did in my growing up years. As I look back on my life with my children I am glad I chose to be a stay home mom and put family values above money.