A Mother’s Love: Endless, Priceless, and Selfless

A mother's love is a sacrifice so true, 

For her children, she will always come through. 

With late nights and early mornings, she gives her all, 

Nurturing them gently through each rise and fall. 

With a heart that's pure, her love shines bright, 

She sacrifices her dreams to give them light. 

A mother's love is a treasure so rare, 

A gift that fills her children's hearts with care. 

Who could forget a mother's love? A mother’s acts of love are evident from pregnancy through labour, childbirth, and breastfeeding, as well as in caring for and nurturing their children into adulthood. Some women even risk their lives so that their children can live. The worldwide celebration of Mother's Day is just one way to honour and appreciate mothers. Mothers deserve more for who they are. While the celebration may occur on different dates around the world, in many countries such as the United States, Canada, Ghana, and Australia, it takes place on the second Sunday of May.

History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day originated when Anna Jarvis campaigned for this special day to honour her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers during the American Civil War and passed away in 1905. Julia Ward Howe also played a significant role in establishing Mother's Day, advocating for peace and women's rights. The first Mother's Day service was held in 1908 at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia, United States, and President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making it a national holiday in 1914.

Mothers' Roles in Society

Mothers play a vital role in shaping families and societies through various responsibilities and influences.

Family Roles

In the family, mothers provide emotional support, care, and guidance to their children, helping them develop physically and emotionally. Mothers often play a central role in creating and maintaining family bonds, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness. Mothers also serve as role models, teaching their children values, morals, and life skills that shape their character and behaviour.

Societal Roles

Mothers help socialize their children, teaching them how to interact with others, develop social skills, and become responsible members of society. Mothers often play a significant role in their children's education, supporting their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Many mothers are actively involved in their communities, volunteering, participating in local organizations, and advocating for social causes.

Economic Roles

Mothers play a vital role in contributing to the workforce, entrepreneurship, and economic growth of every society.

Formal Economy

• Workforce participation: Mothers are increasingly joining the formal workforce, holding jobs in diverse sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, and technology. 

• Entrepreneurship: Mothers are starting and running their businesses, creating jobs, and driving innovation. 

• Leadership roles: Mothers are assuming leadership positions in governance and various industries, shaping policy and decision-making. 

Informal Economy 

• Care-giving and domestic work: Mothers often undertake unpaid caregiving and domestic work, managing households and caring for family members. 

• Informal entrepreneurship:  Mothers may engage in informal entrepreneurial activities, such as street vending or small-scale trading. 

Mothers' economic empowerment can help reduce poverty and improve living standards for families and communities, and also significantly contribute to a country's GDP. Additionally, mothers' participation in the economy can drive innovation, creativity, and economic growth.

As part of celebrating Mother's Day, some views of Ghanaian mothers were collected to appreciate the role of mothers even better.

I am a mother of four, and I wake up at 3:00 AM every day except Sundays to prepare my children's meals for school before I head to Agbogbloshie to sell. Thankfully, my eldest child is mature enough to bathe the youngest sibling and help the others get ready for school. I usually get home around 7:00 PM to cook dinner, but on days when the market is slow, I come home much earlier. I work hard to support my husband because taking care of four children and renting a room in Accra is challenging for us. Additionally, my husband's income is not very high, which is why I need to work to help support the family.

I’m a seamstress and have undergone three caesarean sections to have my three children. Most of the time, I experience pain in my lower back due to the operations, but I still need to work to support my family. Our work can be seasonal; during special occasions, people order new dresses, allowing me to earn a good income and save. However, when there are no occasions, I hardly make enough money to save, and whatever I earn primarily goes towards feeding my family. My husband is a mason, but his services are not always in demand, which is why I also need to work.

I am a single parent with a nine-year-old son. I work as a teacher, and I also sell sachet water and ice cream on the side. My main goal is to ensure that I can provide for my son's basic needs. I want to make sure he doesn't fall into bad company because he lacks the essentials that I cannot provide.

I am a mother of two. My partner left us for another woman, which means I am solely responsible for my children. We rarely see him and do not receive any financial support from him. I took out a loan to start selling fish, and that's how I've been managing for the past four years. I want to pay off this loan so I can apply for a larger amount. This would allow me to buy fish in bulk directly from the lakeside, where it is cheaper than purchasing from the market.

Challenges Faced by Working Mothers

Many mothers face challenges balancing their work and family responsibilities, which is typical of formal employment. There is already too much physical and emotional stress on a mother trying to manage her life, family, and home. At the same time, a working mother attempts to handle work pressures and meet deadlines. Usually, work leaves no room for reasons such as a child being sick, a baby being up all night, and family emergencies, as this is often described as having one’s motherhood overlap with business. Mother’s Day should also remind us of the support mothers require in the workplace to effectively manage both work and family demands.

Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day

Here are some thoughtful ways to make your mom feel special on Mother's Day:

Show Appreciation

• Express Gratitude: Let your mother know how much you appreciate her love and support, and how much she means to you.
• Celebrate Her Achievements: Recognize and celebrate your mother's accomplishments, no matter how big or small.
• Make It Personal: Tailor the day to your mother's interests and preferences to show her that you truly care.

Thoughtful Gifts

• Flowers: Give your mother a bouquet of her favourite flowers or a beautiful plant to brighten up her space.
• Relaxation Gifts: Consider gifts that promote relaxation, such as a spa day, scented candles, or essential oils.
• Favourite Treats: Surprise your mother with gourmet treats, like chocolates or a meal she loves.

Quality Time

• Spend Quality Time Together: Engage in activities your mother enjoys, such as cooking, gardening, or watching a movie.
• Family Activity: Plan a family activity or game night that everyone can enjoy together.
• Breakfast in Bed: Treat your mother to breakfast in bed, complete with her favourite foods and beverages.

Gestures

• Handwritten Letter: Write a heartfelt letter expressing your love and appreciation for your mother.
• Customized Gift: Create a personalized gift, such as a photo album or engraved item, which shows you care.
• Special Outing: Organize a special outing or activity that your mother will enjoy, like a picnic or a visit to a local attraction.

It's important to remember that even if some people have reservations about their mothers, every mother has loved her child by bringing them into the world. Mother's Day is a time to appreciate mothers and provide them with the support they need to thrive in their roles within families and society.

REFERENCE

Information from https://www.almanac.com/content/history-mothers-day and https://www.rootandriseblog.com/embracing-motherhood-challenges-and-struggles/  was used in this story.