Cheers to the Whole Village!

     In a few winks, the day will come.  Celebrated the world over, this is the specific day for honoring all mothers.  Flowers, chocolates and a trip to one’s favorite restaurant for a family meal are part of the observance.  Mothers with wealthy kids will even receive luxurious and expensive mementos. 

     For those who reside in informal settlements, Mother’s Day may pass unnoticed and unmarked; except if they get to make that occasional stroll through the mall.  Frankly, I believe they may be correct in their pragmatism about the occasion. 

     Surely, in our modern times, it would be most difficult to identify who is a child’s mother exactly.  Is it the biological mom who gave actual birth to the child?  How about those who care for the child, like aunts and grandmothers and even neighbors?  With our complicated lives these days, mothers do have to work to earn extra cash for subsistence.   Many even travel out of the country to find better opportunities.  Most content themselves with finding 8 to 5 jobs that require them to leave their homes very early in the morning and return bone tired by nightfall.  For those who are up to the challenge, night jobs are aplenty with mothers making the sacrifice of bonding with their children only on weekends.  It has now become a luxury for mothers to stay home to watch their children grow.   

     There used to be this saying that “it takes a village to raise a child” and I feel that it is never more true than now.   While mothers leave home to make money, children grow up under the tutelage of relatives, friends and neighbors. 

     In essence, we all become part of the cycle of rearing, aiding, caring for, nurturing, educating, and “mother”ing children while imparting to them the rudiments of life.   We all play mother by our words, and actions.  By our example, we lead them to seek a better or an inferior life. 

     Whatever our titles may be; Mama, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, Uncle, Insan (cousin), Kuya (big brother) or Ate (big sister), let’s all remember that we have all been entrusted with a pliable mind and heart. We are faced with a blank page where any one of us can write beautiful or ugly things and all of us, including the whole “village” will have to live with the results. 

     Let us then all share this little piece below with each other and keep it in our hearts and minds to constantly guide us as we travel with our little ones through life’s roads.

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

 Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Cheers to the Whole Village!  Let’s drink to a better generation to come!