Being a dad is the most wonderful experience of my life. Somehow, I always knew it would be. I cherish my children and I take my shared responsibility for raising them and guiding them through life very seriously. But let's face it - moms rule.
Point a video camera at a crowd of people and what's the first thing they shout? "Hi Mom!" Watch a football player's tearful interview after a Super Bowl victory and chances are he'll credit his mom among his inspirations. Mothers seem to make everything okay - from a scraped knee to a broken heart. My mom, Gloria, was a single parent during much of my early childhood. For a time, she worked two jobs to support us. She still treats me like my wife treats our children - with the unconditional love and tenderness that seems to define motherhood itself. If I don't feel well, she still offers to come over just to make sure I'm okay. It's not just love they give us - mothers are also often the disciplinarians in their household. Forget hearing, "Wait until your father gets home!" I always knew I was in trouble by that look in my mom's eyes. Disappointing her hurt more than any punishment ever could.
That's why I consider Mother's Day one of the most important dates on the calendar. For all they do for their children every day of they year - is it so much to ask that we set aside one day that's just for them? They deserve to be pampered and spoiled by the very people they pamper and spoil every other day of the year - their kids. My twelve year old son would agree. He has been home-bound for several months with a debilitating nerve injury. The one person who is there for him day and night is his mom, Keri. She waits on him, helps him with his homework and offers him strength, tenderness and encouragement that seem to work every bit as well as his medication and physical therapy. Keri is also the one our daughters turn to for daily advice that she just seems to know innately. Spending the day with their mom is time that they relish and Keri treats being their parent like an honor and a privilege. I suspect Keri learned what she knows about motherhood from her own mother, Horty. They still talk several times a day and see each other a few times every week.
I already feel like every weekend includes Father's Day (admit it, guys - we get to sleep on the sofa in the middle of the day and no one bothers us). The need for a separate day for us seems a bit redundant. This year I want to make sure that my mom, my wife's mom and our children's mom all know how much they mean to everyone in our family. They are loved and appreciated and I am proud to wish them a Happy Mother's Day.