Moms are the Best!

Everyone knows who the really famous moms in the world are. But in the United States alone, there are more than 80 million regular moms doing the real work of motherhood day in and day out—without any of the fanfare or fawning press coverage.

We read that the average mom puts in a 13-hour day doing what she needs to do for her family, working paid and volunteer jobs, and doing family-related chores. That means more than a billion hours a day are spent every single day by moms taking care of the rest of us. Think about it. A billion hours a day. Even at a dollar an hour, that’s a lot of value.

But it’s the little things moms do that get us really choked up, especially when we think about that fact that these little scenes play out constantly in the lives of American families.

For example, one friend’s 2-year-old had been working really hard with the sidewalk chalk when big raindrops started to fall from the sky. The mom and her daughter dashed inside only to watch the masterpiece melt in the rain. The 2-year-old did what kids that age do—she melted down. And so her mom took her down to the laundry room, gave her more chalk, and let her recreate her masterpiece on the safe, dry walls, walls that had just been cleaned of fingerprints.

Another friend, who’s going through all sorts of sad times with her extended family, has a tradition of baking her kids any kind of birthday cake they want. This year she set aside her troubles and made a giant rainbow explosion of a cake—just as her daughter hoped for, because moms don’t let their own broken hearts get in the way of their kids’ dreams.

You probably have memories of your own mom reading stories to you at night, or digging through the trash can for your retainer, or of the time she drove you all over town looking for just the right kind of soccer shoes. And if you’re a mom, you’ve probably done these things yourself.

And if that’s the case, you probably shrug and say it’s all in a day’s work. But it’s more than that. It’s a lot more than that. It’s the kind of work that makes everything possible for the people who will one day be running the world.  It’s the kind of work that makes all the difference for us when we need it most.

Here’s to all those moms out there making the future great, one small, quiet act at a time. We owe you more than you could ever know.

--Martha Brockenbrough

Comments

[Shery Borenstein]

Thank you for reminding me of the wonderful mother I have and of the kind of mother I am trying to be.

When my children were small, it seemed exhausting trying to keep up with their daily needs--diaper changes, feeding, bathing, playing, holding, changing again, etc. Now I have 3 teens and the responsibilities in some ways have lessened, yet trying to keep up with the daily needs of loving, listening, understanding, driving (or riding with them while they drive), letting them break away and grow, etc., is still exhausting, but I wouldn't trade my last 19 years of motherhood for all the gold in the universe. I love my children, I love my husband, and I thank God for the privilege of being a wife and mother--not everyone has that privilege.

[Lisa Amick]

I sure appreciate this article. Thank you for appreciating all the moms who work at what they do best, "care" for their famililes. I love being a mom and wouldn't trade it, however there are many days that I feel under appreciated. Wonderful article! Moms rule!

[Maria]

Being a mother is the truest blessing. Nothing can compare.... And then you become a grandma... And the blessings are ten fold....

[Leslie Fierro]

Thank you for that article. It brought tears to my eyes. I think moms forget how much they do for their children. I'm a working mother and it can get very challenging, but at the end of the day when I get to talk with my 15, 12, and 10 year old, it is rewarding. Then I can see that all my efforts in trying to raise good children are manifested. I really love my children and I thank God for them. Even when they give me their teenage drama, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

[vicki tompson]

I loved this piece. I feel like I work all the time doing for everyone and no on notices. I am so glad that there is someone who did take notice and add up all the hours we put in. My children are grown and I have grandchildren. I love it all. i wouldn't trade one minute of my years of mothering. Thank you for noticing.

[jalayne]

Great piece Martha! I am sure that others relate to the continual feeling that what Mom's do is never enough. In my own case, I guess it is partly because Monkeyboy is four and partly because I expect a lot more out of myself. I feel better knowing that that others know what we do does add value and that no matter how simple the effort, the impact is gigantic.

[Frances OKafor]

Martha, You have made my day. I almost had a melt down from getting up at 3:30 am to clean my house, feeding the dog, make out schedule for 9 year old, cook breakfast, do two loads of laundry, shower, get dressed for work, leave activity list for son with autism, then go to work, just to get back home and find the house trashed again. thanks i really really needed it. thanks and thanks again.

[Donna Nichols]

I liked the article too. Many times I was frustrated by having to do the things described (shopping all over town for shoes, baking cakes and things for fund raisers, etc. while everyone else is sleeping, cleaning til midnight because you are having a family party....) I know my family appreciates me deep down, but I don't always feel it. Sometimes they try to tell me and it's hard to accept if we were fussing during some of it. Being a mother is an amazing thing and I believe we have an enormous amount of juggling skills that dads and kids can't handle. I'm thankful that I've been able to take good care of all of the members of my family. My twins are soon to be 18 and seniors in high school. I never thought I would see this time get here when they were little. Now, I want to hold on and know that I can't. I'm starting to look forward to some "me" time and time with my husband and not so much driving, spectating, and being needed all the time. Bring on the grandkids in the appropriate time and sequence! Thanks for the article.