Why we don't celebrate 'Mothers Day' at our centres...
I know that my children, now aged 17 and 22 will be taking note of Mother’s day. I will enjoy feeling their love. And be grateful that I have been there to mother them all through their childhoods.
We don’t do anything special for Mother’s day in our centres. We would like to. We have plenty of ideas and know that children love to give to those who care for them. And we know how good it is for children to feel able to give to those who give to them...
But too many of our children either have no mothers or have mothers who have left them. AIDS and poverty has taken its toll, teenage pregnancy left children unsure of who their real mothers are (Granny, aunty or mom?), or young mothers spend months and years away from their children to work or study, or give up the struggle of being a mother and abandon them to others care.
So who does the child make the present and card for? How do we address each child’s probably unique and individual confusion? Or their sadness when they are once again reminded that they lack what other children can take for granted?
Perhaps what we need is a day where we honour our main caregiver/s whoever they are. It would certainly suit all too many of our little children better...
This little boy pictured in the playground at one of our centres lost his mom a year ago. This 'see that child there...his/her mom died on Tuesday' is a thing I hear too often..."