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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Moms deserving of special thanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every day I spend my time talking to moms. I meet them on the playground, doctor’s offices and even in the airport, and I always feel compelled to ask them about their children. They usually open right up and talk about the joys of raising their kids, as well as the challenges they are facing.
While all mothers are special and take on the extremely difficult task of rearing loving, responsible children, I wanted to take some time this Mother’s Day to focus on some moms who are dealing with some extraordinary challenges. I wanted to share with you some moms that I admire most:
Single Mothers — Every time my husband goes out of town for a few days, I feel like I’m getting a small taste of what it would be like to be single mom. I can’t imagine the stress of being solely responsible for the safety, health, financial and daily care of my children. I am so impressed by mothers who bravely take on these tasks and whose children thrive under their constant care. They have to be more organized, more thrifty, more patient, and more selfless than many moms who have the support of a partner.
Mothers of multiples — After taking care of a single newborn, I am impressed by any mother who can meet the demands of two newborns or more at once. Double the nursings, double the diapers, double the wake-ups during the night. I love to watch the juggling act these mothers manage as they give each child what they need (and sometimes other siblings too). I can’t help but think they must be exhausted.
Foster moms— We watched this year as one of our friends took in a newborn who needed a home. This family already had two school-age children, and they revamped their whole life to care for this sweet infant. The baby ended up needing extra medical attention and the foster mom tirelessly took care of him as if he were her own. Besides his day-to-day care, she attended court hearings as well to look out for his long-term interest. We always knew she was a great mom, but seeing all her unconditional love for this baby made her an extraordinary mom.
Mothers of children with special needs — We have several mothers in our life whose children have special needs. Whether their children have Downs Syndrome, Autism, learning disabilities or physical impairment, these moms always amaze me with their diligent care. Sometimes they’re dealing with surgeries, sometimes it’s months of therapy, and sometimes it’s just endless visits to specialists to figure out exactly what their child needs. We’ve watched our friends tirelessly investigate schools to find the perfect match to help their children thrive and then fly into watchdog mode to make sure their kids are treated fairly.
Military moms — Recently, the new documentary “Carrier” on PBS depicted a mother in the Navy who had to leave her children with her ex-husband while she deployed. What a tough assignment not to be able to hug and hold your kids daily.
On the flip side are the mothers left behind when husbands go off to fight. I have a friend from high school who is now Special Forces in the military. He served in Afghanistan and finally came home. He was with his new baby (his first) for just a few months when he was told he was needed in Iraq for a special mission. They good news was he could return home if the job was done quickly; the bad news is that meant it was fairly dangerous. I can’t imagine having a several-month-old baby, whacked out hormones and a husband on a dangerous mission in a war zone. What an amazing mom to handle it all. Luckily he did return safely.
And finally, there are the moms sending their sons and daughters off to war. I would be worried constantly and waiting to hear from them every day.
To all these moms who face special challenges, I wish you a happy Mother’s Day, and I hope you know that your hard work is appreciated. See more Mother’s Day coverage
What moms do you admire the most?
