I love and honor my late mother, grandmother, and aunt - all were mothers to me. Unfortunately, Mother鈥檚 Day represents pain for many women, especially those who are childless or by choice, for whatever reason, childfree. I am part of the latter. For health reasons, my husband and I did not have children. Yet, I nurtured and mothered hundreds of children over the years as a kindergarten teacher. Several years ago, I sat in church while a rose was given to every woman who was a mother. I was the only woman to go home empty-handed. An older woman of the church approached me privately to say how sorry she was that I was excluded, recognizing me as one of the mothers her granddaughter had (I taught her granddaughter). Another year I went to church with my parents on Mother鈥檚 Day and a flower was given to the oldest mother, the mother with the most kids present in church, etc. They were down to the last flower and the category was 鈥測oungest mother鈥. Two moms tied, both 27. The minister was perplexed, having only one flower. From the pulpit, he announced 鈥淛ane was a mother, but wasn鈥檛 married, so Debbie - who was married - was awarded the flower. Because I was sitting with my parents, I didn鈥檛 walk out. But I wanted to. I now skip church on Mother鈥檚 Day and go shopping to buy myself something nice.
I love and honor my late mother, grandmother, and aunt - all were mothers to me. Unfortunately, Mother鈥檚 Day represents pain for many women, especially those who are childless or by choice, for whatever reason, childfree. I am part of the latter. For health reasons, my husband and I did not have children. Yet, I nurtured and mothered hundreds of children over the years as a kindergarten teacher. Several years ago, I sat in church while a rose was given to every woman who was a mother. I was the only woman to go home empty-handed. An older woman of the church approached me privately to say how sorry she was that I was excluded, recognizing me as one of the mothers her granddaughter had (I taught her granddaughter). Another year I went to church with my parents on Mother鈥檚 Day and a flower was given to the oldest mother, the mother with the most kids present in church, etc. They were down to the last flower and the category was 鈥測oungest mother鈥. Two moms tied, both 27. The minister was perplexed, having only one flower. From the pulpit, he announced 鈥淛ane was a mother, but wasn鈥檛 married, so Debbie - who was married - was awarded the flower. Because I was sitting with my parents, I didn鈥檛 walk out. But I wanted to. I now skip church on Mother鈥檚 Day and go shopping to buy myself something nice.