Mothers are special

Sometimes in the course of conversations, I would ask ladies, “So what keeps you busy?” They instinctively know I am interested to know whether they are employed in a corporate setting, running a business or doing something else. I would get the common response, “Oh no I am not working; I am just a plain housewife taking care of my kids.” I never miss a beat. I would quickly respond and say, “There is no such thing as a plain housewife.” Taking care of the home and motherhood is no easy task and should not be trivialized. In my book, it is more important than running a publicly listed company. Because mothers take care of the home and prepare the next generation.

Abraham Lincoln says: “The greatest lessons I have ever learned were at my mother’s knees… all that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” And at one time Lincoln also said: “No man is poor who has a godly mother.”

Show me a profession that can match this. I don’t think you can. In many cases, positions and achievements of the children does not really matter that much to mothers as in the case of this story. The title of the material is “My Son... the President.”

The first Jewish president of the United States calls his mother in Brooklyn, NY and invites her to come down for Thanksgiving.

She says, “I’d like to, but it’s so much trouble... I mean, I have to get a cab to the airport, and I hate waiting on Ocean Blvd...”

He replies, “Mom! I’m the president! You won’t need a cab - I’ll send a limousine for you!”

His mother replies, “I know, but then I’ll have to get my ticket at the airport and try to get a seat on the plane, and I hate to sit in the middle... it’s just too much trouble.”

He replies, “Mom! I’m the president of the United States! I’ll send Air Force One for you – it’s my private jet!”

To which she replies, “Oh, well, but then when we land, I’ll have to carry my luggage through the airport, and try to get a cab...it’s too much trouble at my age.

He replies, “Mom!! I’m the president! I’ll send a helicopter for you! You won’t have to lift a finger; the Secret Service will handle everything.”

She answers, “Yes, that’s nice... but, you know, I still need a hotel room, and the rooms are so expensive, and I don’t like hotels...”

Exasperated, he answers, “Mom! I’m the president! You’ll stay at the White House in the Lincoln Bedroom! “

She responds, “Well... all right... I guess I’ll come.”

The next day, she’s on the phone with her friend Betty:

Betty: “Hello, Sylvia... so what’s new?”

Sylvia: “I’m visiting my son for Thanksgiving!”

Betty: “The dentist?”

Sylvia: “No... the other one.”

This story is most probably fictional, but this one is not:

Many years ago, the pager went off during a council meeting in Knoxville, Tenn., police chief Phil Keith was startled to see that the call was from his mother. Concerned, he rushed to the press table and phoned her. “Phil Keith, are you chewing gum?” asked his mom, who had been watching the council meeting on cable TV. “Yes, ma’am.” “Well, it looks awful. Spit it out.” Keith dutifully removed the gum and went back to his meeting.1

That’s what a mother is for you.

My designer daughter is expecting. And I can see the challenges and the adjustments she has to make. This is why you do not just trivialize mothers as being a “plain housewife or a mother,” I am of the persuasion that many of the country’s top business leaders would not be able to do what they are doing or even come close to the work they have done as mothers.

Here is a collection of quotes from famous personalities over the ages expressing their sentiments about mothers:

•  “A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” —Tenneva Jordan

•  “In the end, mothers are always right. No one else tells the truth.” —Randy Susan Meyers

•  “We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.” —Laura Stavoe Harm

•  “When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ It’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” —Erma Bombeck

• “The phrase ’working mother’ is redundant.” —Jane Sellman

•  “If evolution really works, how come mothers have only two hands?” —Milton Berle

• “There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.” —Chinese Proverb

• “Mom, I love you, even though I’ll never accept your friend request.” —Unknown

That’s motherhood for you. And to all the mothers out there: “Happy Mother’s Day!”

(Attend the two exciting and inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership seminar-workshop on May 21-22 at beautiful Seda Vertis North, Quezon City. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at www.levelupleadership.ph)

1 https://www.family-times.net/illustration/Obedience/200436/