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Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in many countries during the months of May and June, is not just for mothers. There is a mother in each of us.
No, I’m not forgetting that some of us have not given birth. In fact there is a whole gender that cannot give birth, but… There is a bit of mother in each woman and man.
What are some of the qualities or attributes that you associate with the image of mother? Stop here to answer the question before reading further.
Keep these traits in mind as we look at the mother which is in each of us.
1. Whether or not we have known our biological mother, we carry her genes. She gave birth to us. We grew within her body where we were nurtured until birth. Our beings were united by an umbilical cord for nine months. She continues to live through us. If you are like me, she remains a key role model. If she brought you up, you probably carry some of her characteristics. I can’t count the number of times I enter an elevator with a mirror at the back, look into it and say, “Hi, Mom.” As the years pass I even look more like her.
2. What we associate with the word mother goes beyond the person herself. They are attributes that we can all share with others. Go back to your own list that you made before reading this. No matter what our personal relationship with your own mother has been, the term Mother congers up images of tender loving care, discipline, comfort, warmth, protection, education, support, nursing, multi-tasking to meet all our needs. Each time that we share these qualities with others, we are extending a bit of the mother that is within us.
3. All of us have had many mother images enter our lives and some of us were even raised by someone other than our biological mother. These women and men who extend the qualities that we associate with a mother are meaningful role models and influence our lives considerably.
My sister Rose and her husband David, although they do not have children of their own, are among the precious mothers we know. They are champions at nourishing the youth around them in both body and spirit. A tradition they began with their nieces and nephews is one that I would encourage others to copy. At family reunions they set aside special time with each child individually. It might be a simple picnic on the beach. Whatever they did, they listened actively to what was important in that child’s life.
Today these children are adults who feel a close bond with this aunt and uncle and keep them posted on their lives and the antics of their own children.
I use this example because it is real, effective, and easy to copy. It also emphasises one of the attributes that we associate with mothers: a caring, listening ear.
As mature adults we are privileged to let the mother within us shine through our AgeEsteem. Whether or not we are parents or grandparents, there are people of all ages who are hungry to experience the mother within us. It is one of the multiple gifts that we have to offer. In many cases, we even have more time to enjoy this aspect of living.
Through your own AgeEsteem you recognize the qualities that you have to share. If you don’t, then now is the time to look at yourself with new eyes. If you need a kick start, test some of the exercises below to help you..
Let the mother within you shine forth through your AgeEsteem.
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