On Mother’s Day, people honor their mothers, thank them for their love and support, and encourage them to take some time off from the 24-hour job that motherhood often entails.
While mothers certainly deserve to be recognized and given a break, this Mother’s Day should also be a time to recognize the great responsibility women have when they become mothers.we can shape the next generation. We teach our children what to value and what kind of people they should aspire to become. We help them set expectations for their future and their role in the world.
This is a big responsibility. I have no doubt that mothers of generations before us would envy how easy it is for us privileged American mothers to ensure that our children have enough food and shelter. But when we look at the challenges we face in setting a moral compass, in getting our children to focus on their true worth and pursue sources of lasting joy and satisfaction; Children will be shocked. Compared to the dangers of TikTok and Snapchat, obstacles like insecure food supplies and the possibility of grizzly bears may seem simple.
But this is our fight and we cannot back down from this fight. (Related: Lucas: Can we still call it Mother’s Day?)
Our first job is to make sure that all those who try to get in the way of us mothers succeed. In her must-read book, Bad Therapy, Abigail Schrier explains how millions of parents who truly want to raise healthy, happy children rely on the opinions of so-called experts. He details how he was persuaded to make the biggest decision about his child’s development. Growing up. But we’re learning every day how often those experts get it wrong. Sometimes experts are wrong for terrible reasons. They are prioritizing money and their own political agenda over the actual well-being of our children. In many cases, these experts may have good intentions, but they are simply wrong.
Mothers need to regain respect for their natural instincts.No one knows your child better than you. Outside professionals – therapists, teachers, administrators – don’t have the same long-term interest in your child’s well-being. Don’t let anyone push you away or challenge your role in parenting.
On the days when you get your precious paper flowers or first edition poems, it’s especially hard to remember that parenting requires saying no over and over again. As someone who values harmony in her home, it’s easy to succumb to her bratty preteen’s demands and send her down the technological rabbit hole of texting and entertainment. But our job is to be their parents, not their friends. It is believed that we should take the long view and overcome unpleasant afternoons and difficult stages. This is certainly an area that I struggle with, but as my Mother’s Day resolution, I vow once again to do the right thing by my children, even when times are tough.
Recent demonstrations on college campuses across the country remind us of the importance of our work. Participating in protests without even the rudimentary knowledge of the cause they are supposedly supporting, watching radical protesters harass other students based on their ethnicity. How depressing it is to see young people turning a blind eye.
How grateful we all are to the mothers of our students who decided to stand up and speak out against class closures and building invasions. We are strong, courageous patriots who recognize that America, imperfect as it may be, is still the greatest and free country on earth, and that it is a privilege to live here. We need more trained young people.
Online influencers, hedonistic celebrities, and radical professors seek to instill in our children a set of values that they know are at odds with their long-term interests. Their tendencies toward narcissism, division, and negativity must be counteracted by a vision of a purposeful future in which they build meaningful relationships and make valuable contributions to respectful and peaceful societies. It is our job as mothers to guide our children to what they want to become.
Enjoy breakfast in bed. Enjoy delicious coffee and champagne. We wish you a relaxing day filled with sunshine and taking care of your loved ones. Then take a deep breath and get ready to get back on track. You are the first line of defense in the fight to protect the hearts and minds of children. Motherhood today is not for the faint of heart.
Carrie Lucas, a mother of five, is president of the Independent Women’s Forum (iwf.org).
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