Our new video on the right is some footage of the Rick Hansen relay passing through town on February 29th, 2012.

Mother’s Day Is Almost Offensive

Written By Al Jones

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. I don’t know about you folks, but I find Mother’s Day to be almost offensive. Let me explain.

The things my mother has done for me over the years cannot ever be repaid. I may not have recognized the sacrifices when they were made, but as I reflect, I can pick out incidents and snapshots in time when she gave only as a mother could.

As many of you who follow my writings know, we were not exactly well-off when I was young. My father passed away when I was 11 years old. There were many times that Mom worked more than one job to keep the necessities in our household. She didn’t take time away from her family for wants, vacations or to dress in the latest styles. My sister and I wore mostly hand-me-downs from older cousins. We didn’t have a new car or the latest and greatest toys. You see folks…. back in those days, women made minimum wage, no matter what the job was. She had to work long hours just to keep the necessities like a roof over our heads and food on the table.

Speaking of food, I can recall many a time when despite there being meat, milk and fresh fruit on the table, my mother ate little. Things like bacon or pork chops might be on the table, but she would eat potatoes, rice and vegetables we grew ourselves. She always told us she wasn’t really a meat eater, when in reality, she was really ensuring we had our fill. She would drink water while we drank milk and tell us she preferred it. If there was left over chicken or pork, she still didn’t indulge. Instead, the leftovers went to sandwiches for our lunch the next day.

I recall buying her a pant suit when I was 15 years old for her birthday. I saved for months mowing lawns, delivering papers and doing odd jobs around the neighbourhood. I wanted her to have something nice. She told me she was putting it away for a special occasion. It was years later when a family friend spilled the beans and told me she returned it to the department store and exchanged it for winter boots for us kids.

My mom is not alone in the sacrifices she is willing to make for her children. How many people reading this have seen their own mothers or even their wives abstain from having a piece of cake when there are only 4 pieces but 5 people? They tell you that they really didn’t care for that kind of cake, when in reality, they are ensuring their family does not go without. How many of us are married to women or have mothers that go shopping with friends and come home with something for everyone but themselves?

I’m hoping there are lots of youth reading my editorial this week. Look around you. If you have cable, internet, a computer, video games, clothing without patches, get to play sports, or dance, or have tutors or music lessons…. stop and think about the value of those things. Now take a look at your mom. Is she wearing Christian Dior? Is she spending all her time going out to the opera, ballet, or vacationing around the world? How often does she go out to dinner without you? Get the drift, kids? Today’s moms are still making sacrifices.

Who runs the household? Who ensures that you learn to clean up after yourself, and when you fail, does the cleaning? Who ensures that the family is well nourished, both in body and mind? Who listens to your problems and gives advice when possible but remains silent when necessary? Who else in the entire world will love you unconditionally, beyond any judgments?

So now, perhaps you can understand where I’m coming from when I say that Mother’s Day is almost offensive. Not because I don’t believe that moms are deserving of the recognition, but because we have to have a declared date once a year that gives us that kick in the pants to do what we should be doing all year long….. appreciating our moms and all that they do for us.

From everyone at Here’s the Scoop, we hope all Moms have a great day. You deserve it. Happy Mother’s Day!!