Guyanese Online

    MOTHER’S DAY TRIBUTE

“The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests.”

Today, Sunday May 13, Guyana devotes this very special day by joining 90 other Countries around the World to recognize and give tribute to all Mothers.

Only recently dubbed “Mother’s Day,” the highly traditional practice of honoring of Motherhood is rooted in antiquity, and past rites typically had strong symbolic and spiritual overtones; societies tended to celebrate Goddesses and symbols rather than actual Mothers. The personal, human touch to Mother’s Day is a relatively new phenomenon. The maternal objects of adoration ranged from mythological female deities to the Christian Church itself. Only in the past few centuries did celebrations of Motherhood develop a decidedly human focus.                  

This great idea of devoting a special day for mothers would take root rapidly and became one of the most commercialized holidays around the world yet this observation shouldn’t take away from the true meaning of this special day.

The discussion about our mother always evokes strong emotions in us. And it should! After all, we lived in her womb before we experienced the light of this world.  Mother’ is defined as the person in whom life receives a form suitable for living in this world. However being a mother is not restricted to a woman who only give birth also includes those women who have adopted, fostered and cared for their children

What does ‘living in this world’ mean? It means that a person is alive and functioning physically and spiritually. Mother’s day emphasize the mother’s unique role within the family.

The expectations and responsibilities of mothers are endless. They are expected to be there for their children, no matter what. She is expected to nurse, nurture, feed clothe and hold her children when they are sad. The credit almost always goes back to them for the deeds of their children, whether the report is good or bad.

My mother Enez had the enormous task of caring for six children and a husband. She literally nursed a baby in one arm while juggling a multitude of tasks with the other. When she wasn’t cooking or doing daily chores, she was sewing together our clothing.

She was the house physician, accountant, therapist, teacher, cook, disciplinarian, housekeeper and wife to my father who served 47 years with the Bauxite Industry in Guyana. Today, my siblings and I are very thankful to my dear 82 year old mother who is still active and is very much the matriarch of our family.

Dear Mom

When I was a baby, you rocked me to sleep,
And dressed me and taught me to talk,
You guided my faltering, hesitant steps
When I first started learning to walk.
And then came the day I started to school,
When you realized how fast I had grown,
And you told me what wonderful fun it would be–
Then watched as I skipped off, alone.
You make all the days of my childhood so gay,
So filled with contentment and fun.
That the memory I have of my growing-up years
Is a cherished and wonderful one.
And then, when I started to be on my own,
You offered a sure, guiding hand,
Whenever I needed a listening ear,
I knew then that you’d understand–
For all of your thoughtfulness, all of your love,
Your patience and gentleness, too,
I’m thankful–for I have a wonderful treasure–
A sweet, lovely mother like you!

 If there was a day for everything you have given to me as a mother, it would be Mother’s Day every day.

Thanks for always helping me to remember what is important in life… and today it is you! You’re the best!  Thanks for all you do. Thank you goes out to all the wonderful mothers of Guyana and around the world.