A “Mom” or a “Mother”?

The term “mother” can be defined by so many different things- being a chauffeur; a nurse; a therapist; a chef; the list truly goes on forever. The most beautiful thing is that we all have a mother, but do we all have a someone that we can call a “mom”?

For a mother to even become such, she must first bring another life into this world. The immediate connection between woman and baby is truly beautiful- but the connection can’t stop there. A lot leads up to a baby’s impressionable first words of “mama”. That includes simply just being present. So when does this transformation really take place? From becoming just a mother to now your mom? Perhaps you still don’t see the difference.

Most of our life we spend unsure of the emotions we are supposed to feel towards our mom. These feelings range from if our mom is present in our every day life or has yet to even meet their child before. The role of a mother is constantly judged and constantly changing.

As a baby, we crave attention and affection to the point that we will drive our mom into a brutal insanity. Then the “terrible twos” creeps up and the question of if you’re getting to bed on time for work tomorrow is out the window. After all of that craziness just figuring out the first five years, then you have to trust they are capable to go out into the world and perform in society. Then it’s the battle of feeling second best to their now favourite teacher. You’re not assigning the homework but you sure are getting the brunt of dealing with it.

Then activities become a consistent part of your child’s life, they even have a social life now, and relationships- but you never see them anymore other than to pack their lunch in the mornings. They now expect you to do almost everything for them and throw in that attitude to remind you that you’re not the boss anymore. You either choose to be their enemy or their friend. Then you’re watching them battle between being a teenager and an adult- this is when they need you but would rather push you away. After everything they put you through, the good and the bad, whether they tell you “I love you” or hide in their room daily, and whether they knew it or not at the time, that child needed you and you were always there for them. That elevates a “mom” above just a “mother”.

The point of being a “mom” is adjusting to what your child needs and adapting their life into yours. You will be a mother forever, but you really only get to be a mom for eighteen years. Cherish every moment of it.