Women and Mothers

I guess I was a little sexist today. I let a lady, with her young son, in front of me in line. She seemed a little surprised, but was thankful, since she was apparently somewhat in a hurry. I joked that it was a Mother’s Day gift, almost as if to excuse myself. But the truth is I would have done it anyway; it was mainly that she was a mother, with a child, who seemed to be in a hurry. I understand the challenges of raising children and dealing with their moods when they are tired etc. The child still seemed to be doing well, not tired and whiny—but it didn’t matter.

Her surprise led me to wonder if it is rare that someone would be kind and let her ahead. I had to wonder, are there not still men who, out of respect, would let her ahead? Are there not still men who open doors for ladies? Has all the talk of women’s rights and “equality” led men to leave women to fend for themselves? Is this what women want? I doubt it. I also doubt that all the men who respect and honor women are gone. But unfortunately, it does seem we are an endangered species.

As with other species nearing extinction, we must make efforts to keep the species alive. The best place to start is when they are boys. We need to teach boys to respect and honor girls and women, not as some inferior beings in need of pity, but as special co-partners in life. It is women who carry the children we bring into the world. It is generally women who devote the most time to raising them. It is women who bring more kindness, love, and beauty into the world.

Celebrate the special and unique attributes of womanhood. And to all the women who hope to be mothers, to all those who are preparing to be, and to those who already are mothers:
Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for your special contribution.