Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Co-Managing Editor
Every year, we gather together on the second Sunday of may to celebrate the people closest to our heart: Mothers.
In life, we will meet many people who will influence us beyond what we could ever have imagined. Our friends, our spouses, our siblings, every single person contributes to how we go about our day whether we know it or not. Some people stay, others leave, and over time we will make friends and lose them, date people and leave them, and forge our own path through life because at the end of the day it is still OUR journey.
However, this journey would not be possible if it weren’t for the ever-influential importance and presence of our mothers. From the very moment we come into this world, our mothers are the first people we see and who are there for us. After all, they just spent 9 months carrying your useless butt around then went through the incredibly excruciating (and equally dangerous) process of bringing you into this world.
We quite literally have been mooching off our mothers since conception and for the first 18 years of our life we depend on them for almost everything whether that is the food on our plates, clothes on our backs, or the love and affection in your life. Not to mention, these women have spent more time and money on you than any other person in the world aside from themselves so you better be grateful.
Mothers have given up their dreams for their children. They have given up love for their children. Mothers have and will continue to make an endless number of sacrifices to cater and care for your life.
Parenthood may be one of the joys of life, but it would be naive to say that mothers have not been forced to compromise certain aspects of themselves to care for others. It is in this action that mothers become the most selfless people in the world. And it is in still pursuing their dreams and evolving as people and professionals that they show their resilience and unwavering strength.
In over 80% of single parent cases, it is the mother that becomes the head parent of the household. In over 75% of divorce cases, it is once again the mother that assumes the responsibility of full or majority parenting.
For daughters, the quality of relationships with mothers heavily correlates with higher self esteem, stronger sense of personal identity, and ambition/desire to achieve. For sons, their relationship with their mother tends to follow traits such as independence, support and confidence, and overall sense of masculinity and responsibility.
A strong relationship with both parents is critical to the success of any child, but since birth it is our mothers who we are trained to respect and admire more than anyone else for their courage, durability, and unwavering devotion to us. For all this work, it seems pretty lousy that they are only rewarded one day, right?
That’s why it’s important to remember that our appreciation for our mothers is not only to be shown on this special day, but every day of our lives, whenever we can. Every situation may not be perfect. Everyone may not have a perfect relationship with their mother. We may fight, yell, and say things we wish we hadn’t to them. But still, as their mother, they will always love you no matter what.
And as their child, you will always be able to make them proud no matter what. So when you get home and see your mother right there ready to give you a big hug, don’t walk past them. Embrace them, appreciate them, and thank them for everything they have done. Because the more they know you care for them, the more they will be able to care for you. They won’t be around forever, so don’t waste the time you have with them now. Happy Mother’s Day.