Ed Wood "The Right Stuff" Published May 7, 2003

Mother's Day

Nothing has changed more in the past 50 years than the role of our mothers. And I hate to admit it, but the change has not been for the better. Their task has only become more demanding.

In my generation, the primary function of the mother was to be the stabilizing influence within the family. She was the glue that held the family together, both spiritually and physically. Even then, our mothers felt their work was never done - cleaning, washing, ironing, making sure the kids' shirttails were tucked in and their hair combed, and the last minute inspection on the way to church when she would lick her finger and wipe from our faces the remains of the morning's jelly biscuit that somehow missed its target. We called her "mother," not "mom." And she received the respect that word implied.

In the past 50 years, we fathers have benefited greatly from developing technology. We no longer have to harness up the mules and walk behind the triple-bottom plow to work the tobacco. We now do the same job, sitting inside our air-conditioned tractor cab, listening to the radio. Or if we are traveling salesmen, or truck drivers, or whatever, again we travel and work in comforts never imagined a generation ago. Let's face it, modern technology has made men's work much less demanding, giving us time to come home to a good meal, and spend the remainder of the evening relaxing in front of the TV. Unless, of course, we are meeting the fellows for a quick nine holes of golf.

But what about our wives and mothers? They still have all the aforementioned responsibilities to perform, plus a host of others. Yes, many now have the convenience of washing machines and clothes dryers and dishwashers. But in addition to the cleaning, washing and ironing, the high cost of living now requires most wives to work outside the home, while still bearing the responsibilities of being mothers - getting the children to and from day care, school, Scouts, the "Y", help with the homework, you name it. And when the mothers are single, these responsibilities, and the lack of time in which to get them accomplished, are simply overwhelming.

So this Sunday, let's pay tribute to our mothers. A red rose corsage would be nice. But let's not forget our wives, especially those wives who are also mothers, and express to them the love and devotion they so richly deserve for the endless tasks they are called upon to perform, day after day after endless day.

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Ed Wood is a resident of Sparta, TN. His column is published each Wednesday in the Crossville Chronicle. He can be contacted at edwd@blomand.net