By Jenna Baker & Jane Hanna
Mother’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the sacrifices and hard work that mothers make for their loved ones. Although it is a wonderful day filled with gifts and love, it is not enough to show our true appreciation for our hard-working mothers.
Motherhood is a full-time job in itself, and many mothers are undervalued by their families and deserve much more than they generally receive.
One of the main issues that goes unrecognized about motherhood is how much sacrifice goes into taking care of children. Mothers care for their children until they are able to care for themselves, often for far longer than 18 years. Even then, mothers go above and beyond to assist their children in times of need, often neglecting their own needs in the process.
In many households, mothers tend to carry many more responsibilities than fathers. According to Pew Research, roughly 59 percent of people believe that when it comes to the children, mothers put in more work than fathers. Many women are expected to complete household chores and work on top of caring for children.
This is rooted in traditional gender roles, where women were viewed as domestic workers. While the father went off to work, the mother would stay at home to cook, clean, or care for their children. As time progressed, society began to evolve and women began working outside of the house. However, the expectation that women would take care of the house never left, leaving many women with even more responsibilities now.
Mothers often forget self-care because of these seemingly endless duties. Mental and physical health are very important factors that mothers need to attend to ensure their own health is taken care of. However, a mother’s schedule is often tight, which makes it difficult to get some free time for themselves. Self-care can feel like one more chore when there is already not enough time in the day.
Some of the gifts mothers are given on Mother’s Day give mothers even more work. One example of this is the traditional breakfast-in-bed that many children do to celebrate their moms. Even though the idea is heartwarming, the execution may not always be what was planned. After the breakfast, these mothers are often left to clean more dishes than they had to begin with, including their own breakfast in bed.
Mother’s Day should be celebrated more than just once a year, as mothers are responsible for so much more than we realize. Working, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of children and family are just a few of the jobs mothers do every single day. Mothers also have to juggle jobs, marriages, friendships, and so many other factors.
One of the most important ways we can honor our mothers is by helping mothers to juggle their responsibilities. Clean more of the house or schedule your own doctor appointments, for example. Help by giving your mother the time for the self-care she deserves.
Every child should show appreciation for his or her mother on Mother’s Day, and extend that gratitude beyond one Sunday in May. Everyday should be Mother’s Day. This Mother’s Day, take the time to show your mom you love her; she deserves it.
The Plaid Press 