Once a year, it is “Mother’s Day.” It is the day of
delightful greetings and simple gifts for mothers. And mothers love to have
them from their children as they have always love their children – very much
more than their children loving them. The standing truth is that motherhood is
a - whole year – 365-day maternal burden
and delight, a mother’s daily 24/7 responsibility and affection. That is why –
without going to the superfluity of saying that everyday should be “Mother’s
Day” – it is but proper and right to think and reflect on the inherent nature
and ingrained finality of motherhood, before, during and even after “Mother’s
Day.”
If there is something really significant and always-relevant
reality to affirm and celebrate about mothers, such precisely is their very
intimate connection and very distinct relationship with the children they
themselves lovingly and tenderly brought into the world. Just for the record,
it is but fair and proper to ponder upon certain basic truths inherently appended
to the mother-and-child relationship. This is in no way meant to underrate the
important role of fatherhood. But, the mother-and-child phenomenon is
definitely deeper in significance, implications and consequences. Why?
It is the mother who carries her child in her womb for some
nine continuous months, night and day, rain or shine. It is then that she makes
her child share her own blood, feed on her own digested food, partake of her
own breathe. And as her child becomes bigger and heavier in weight, so it is
that is also becomes progressively difficult and tedious for the mother –
irrespective of time of the day, the place she does to and occasion she
participates in. That is why much more than mere bonding, there is a veritable
communion between mother and child, viz., close union plus continuous
interaction between them.
It is the mother who eventually gives birth to her child
with pain and joy, with worry and anticipation. And it does not stop here. She
gives her own milk to her child. She bathes and clothes her child. And
progressively hereafter, the mother teaches her child how to eat, how to talk,
how to walk. Thus it is that the child feels so safe and comfortable in the
arms of her mother. Thus it is that the child trusts no one else more than his
or her own mother. And thus it is that loud cries are heard when a child is
taken away from the mother – until this is back in the mother’s arms and care
again.
It is the mother who cooks for her child, who buys her child
clothes to wear, who watches over her child when sick, plays with her child
when already well. It is the mother who buys her child notebooks, pencils, and
book, who accompanies her child to school – waiting as well for her child to
bring this back home. No wonder then that the child has come up with many terms
to say mother: Nanay, Nay and Inay, Mama, Mom and Ma – to mention a few.
No wonder then that mothers have some kind of a mysterious
built-in antenna that makes her aware one way or another, about the plight of
her child – specially so when the latter in involved in an accident, immersed
in a big trouble or intense pain and suffering. Nanay, I love you!
