PS - Happy Mother's Day

In Memory of My Mother and In Celebration of Yours

Dedicated to my late mom and to all mothers; past, present and future.

Queen Elizabeth II, took over for her father King George VI in 1952. With two young children already, she stepped into this untimely ascent in power and status. Tradition and order were and still are staples to the Royal Family. One of those traditions Queen Elizabeth II had to hold true was meeting with then, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, just as her father King George VI did, every Tuesday at 5:30 pm.

My older brother Freddy, my late mom Teresa and me; January 21, 1988.

However, you’re a mom. You know 5:30 is family time. Perhaps you eat together, go to the park or get your kids in the bath to start the bed time routine. Queen Elizabeth II was no different. Despite having money and power she wanted to be there to put her kids to bed. Not someone else. So, she moved the meeting with Prime Minister Churchill to 6:30 pm. That gave Queen the time and space to attend her most important task, her children.

Today, regardless of your job and responsibilities, nothing is more important than being there with and for your children. The Queen just as so many of you mom’s today, are doing exactly that. Thank you mom’s.

Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) was also a mom while in law school. She had a plan. She writes:

“Our nanny came in at 8 o’clock and left at 4 o’clock. I used the time in between classes to study, to read the next day’s assignment, but 4 o’clock was Jane’s time. We went to the park, played games, sang silly songs. When she went to sleep, I went back to the books. I had to make the most of the time I had. I couldn’t wast time.”

Another mom, that had big dreams and plans and was indeed very busy. Yet, she made it work. She didn’t get distracted with things outside of family or law school. Sure she didn’t have Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok. However, RBG highlights something moms all around the world do; waste no time. Never complaining, never quitting. Showing up for what’s important. Regardless of how hard and making the most of all the time you have. Thank you mom’s.

The first female Supreme Court Justice was Sandra Day O’Connor. At an event in the 1980’s for female judges she was asked, “how do you take care of your family and have a career?” O’Connor responded with,

“always put your family first.”

Without a doubt the life and job of a present mother is hard. Especially with multiple children. Add in a career, a husband and a home and you wonder how mom’s keep it all together. Putting your family first puts things into perspective and allows for the rest of the things in your life to grow and succeed. It’s when you have the wrong focus or priorities when things start to crumble. You can’t just expect things to work without commitment or structure. Without routine or a schedule. Your purpose has to meet your intentions. When you put your family first you become a better professional. However, being a great professional does not make you a great mom. Interesting how that works. It’s mom’s, just like Sandra Day O’Connor that appear to do it all and remind us of the chief task. Family comes first. Thank you mom’s.

In case you did not know, actress Tracee Ellis Ross has a pretty famous mom, Diana Ross. Today we see famous singers and actresses hire help around the clock. Not Diana. She would often turn down gigs because of hard travel schedules and time away from her family. As a successful singer and entertainer, it would be easy to accept the job or a certain amount of money. It would be hard to turn it down. Yet, she did. What Diana did not do was put the career before her family. She did not pass along the pressure to succeed. Focusing on high grades, rewards, trophies and winning, was not the way of Diana Ross. She would ask Tracee, “did you do your best… how do you feel about it Tracee?”

The lesson here for Tracee was that her mom, Diana Ross, modeled what it means to see a life based on how it feels to you and not what other people feel about it. Centered in how you see your own life and not how others see it. It’s mom’s, just like Diana Ross, with money, success, and fame and she does not pass that pressure to her children. Instead, teaching what money cannot buy. Showing that what matters is what you feel is right and doing your best based on your standards. Without external validations or fanfare. Doing your best, in all things, even when no one is watching. Thank you mom’s.

You don’t have to be a judge on a court, an actress, a Queen known to the world or someone famous. To your kids you are much more. Plus, they don’t care what your job is anyway. All They care about is you, as their mom. There are moms doing it all alone as a single parent. Some moms have a home full of kids, a husband and a business on the side, while also working full-time, staying up all night to fulfill orders. Stay at home moms, the unsung heroes in their home, keeping everyone else happy. Then there are those who could not give birth to a child, but are mothers nonetheless. They adopt, they foster, they mentor or teach. Thank you for all you do, your commitments, sacrifices and always being selfless.

Share this with your mom and be sure to express gratitude.

Thought Provoking Question 1 : What does your mother mean to you?

Thought Provoking Question 2 :What kind of mother are you or want to become?

Thought Provoking Question 3 :What is the greatest lesson learned from your mother or mother figure?

Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read on sharing wisdom and asking though-provoking questions.

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