Thank You

It's Mother's Day and with everyone unable to hug their mothers because of the global pandemic, this day will be celebrated in unique ways, never done before. I would like to send out a big thank you to everyone who is a mother, step-mother, caretaker, and mother-figure in this world. The definition of Mother is much different from the role of a Mother. Although I don't want to take away from the actual biological relative, anyone can be considered in this celebrated group if they represent the specific duties of Motherhood. When I was young I would make a card, pick flowers and make a bouquet, make an IOU booklet of chores; anything a child could do to make her mom feel special. My mother was a stay-at-home caregiver, and wonderful at it. She always took the role of bad cop but did it without the negativity that is notorious in that role. When my father would say, "go ask your mother", it was a passive way of saying no but at the same time teaching me right from wrong.

I seem to have adopted the Mother title at most of my jobs, leading a group of staff in a kitchen. I never placed that title above my head but rather my staff recognized the characteristics, perhaps giving these young adults some kind of stability and protection as most of them were newly kicked from their nest, and struggling to fly. I have received Mother's Day cards on this day, had flowers given to me, and small gifts given to me from my staff in the past. The first time this happened, I laughed and brushed it off, but as this tradition continued I realized how important my role was in many of the lives of my "brood". It was even more special when it was also my birthday on the same day. I am unsure as to what started first - in a way nature versus nurture. Am I a natural mother or is it because my staff called me Mom that I became a mother?

Regardless, I am flattered to be a "mom" to my staff, and even to some of the professional soccer players that I feed at my current job. In a way, feeding people is the ultimate traditional role of mothers around the world. Gatherings around a meal made by the "mothers" of the families is a natural activity going back in time to early man. Mothers would be the gatherers foraging the forests for seeds, nuts, greens, fruits and vegetables, and they prepared those items for the meals with the prey successfully hunted and brought home by the men of the tribe. Taking on the role of a cook/chef is similar to those early-man mothers, with the cooking staff being those young children learning how to cook.

My Mother was always a tough love kinda mom, as am I with my staff. Making mistakes is the only way to learn while teaching them that losing is how you win, is the best way to tackle the world. When my staff say they can't do it, I tell them they can, nothing is rocket science. I console them when they are down, trying to make them feel better. I give them advice, feed them, shelter them if needed, and teach them about right from wrong. They learn about boundaries, independence, responsibility, gratitude, direction, and friendship. These are all things I learned from my Mom, and I am happy to pass these on to my "brood" when needed.

Does this make me a Mom? I guess it does in some way. I want to thank all of the mothers in the world, doing the same with there children, friends, and staff. After seeing all of the birthday well wishes from my previous staff members on social media, I feel that being that Mothering figure helped them along their paths, many of them parents themselves now. So today is a special day for everyone involved in helping to raise another person from a lower place to a better place in their lives. Happy Mother's Day everyone who is a mother, plays the role of a mother or is about to be a mother. You have or will change the world. You just wait and see.