Happy Slightly-Belated Mother's Day

When I meet younger people (19-24-ish), I usually like to ask about their higher education. It's an easy way to find something to talk about, and usually I can hold my end of the conversation regarding what they're studying. Whenever someone's going to school for Teaching, I'm pretty impressed. For years, I've referred to teaching as “the second-noblest profession.” This will peak their curiosity, and they'll ask what the noblest is. That would be the full-time version, Parenting.
So-o-o...Happy Slightly-Belated Mothers Day!

I was set to have a Mothers Day post up, but I was busy trying to relieve Andrea as much as I could so she could chill-out. I failed miserably, since I had to work, and needed to leave at 7:30. “Happy Mother's Day! Here she is; she's changed, but she's hungry. See ya!” Fortunately, I have the week off, so I get to give her some time to herself.

If you've read this Blog for any amount of time, you know that I'll take any opportunity to sing the praises of my wonderful wife! It's quite amazing how much like the Energizer Bunny she is; when Calli's gone to bed, and I think we're winding-down for the day, Andrea's found a few more things to do, and will keep going with food-prep, tidying, and other chores.

And on top of that, she studies what she needs to know to be an effective parent. She knows when to introduce fruits, and when it's time to try with the pureed meats, and when eggs or nuts may be safely tested.... It all makes me a little dizzy to think about, but she'll rattle it off like she's known the whole time. She's constantly reading books and magazines, and sharing notes with more experienced mothers, and it makes her a mother to be reckoned with!

Of course, I need to pay homage to two other mothers in my life. Naturally, I'd be horribly remiss if I didn't mention my own mom. She had to raise us in an awful transitional period. Divorces were becoming more commonplace, and she was swept into it. Raised in an environment where men were employed, and women stayed home to tend to the domestic duties, she was forced to play both parts in a world where one income wouldn't support a home. As members of the work-force, women now needed to be considered equal in society, and it bred my generation, where men are more likely to play both parts – professional and domestic – because that's what we saw as children. In her day, a lot of men hadn't caught-up to the changes, and expected the women to hold the fort, whether they were holding down a full-time job or not. This transition isn't over, and I want to salute my mom, and the millions of other women who have lived through this period, to weather the social changes that will eventually lead to co-parenting as the norm.

My sister also has had a difficult road to travel. About seven years ago, the father of her two girls met an untimely end, so not only did she have to deal with that death, but had to walk her children through that grief. Our mother parents have been absolutely critical in the process, and have helped bear that burden. Gerty (my sister's nick name) has done an exemplary job in raising the girls without a father, and deserves a medal for the job she's done.

Cheers and props to all of the women who work tirelessly at the noblest profession. It's great that we have this day to honor you all, but there should really be 6-8 days a year for this!
Love and gratitude to each of you!