I came up with the Treasured Mamas contest because I wanted to uncover new ways to treasure and honor those who are raising, educating and mothering the children of this world. It's work that often goes unnoticed. Being a parent is often seen as a side gig, a nights and weekends kind of thing. It's extra. We're supposed to do more. Raising children is not seen as that important, and it's not seen as enough. So there's not real appreciation. And here's the thing. Any gratitude we get from our children is always so sweet and so adored. Do you have any idea how many little random pieces of paper I have kept that just have little scribbles on them from my kids? Random assortments of letters, little lines and circles. And the hugs and love and "you're the best mommy"?! Oh my. I'm not at all talking about appreciation from my children. They can't even really have any idea of what they should appreciate or why. They have no concept of how many children are living in terrible homes and situations. And they don't need to. When I speak of treasuring and honoring, I speak of our families, our communities, and our societies.
In all honesty I believe our communities should come together to support each family financially to allow for one parent to stay home with each child. Protecting and nurturing children should be our highest priority as a species. We all benefit from living among people who were loved and nurtured as children, and we all suffer from living among people who were neglected and abused as children. Supporting parents is crucial. At the very least we can respect and honor parenthood for what it is - sacred work. We can offer our love, encouragement, time and treasure to those who are in the trenches day after day. Let me tell you. Mothering is unimaginably rewarding. It's also unbelievably exhausting and difficult.
I didn't get a lot of entries for this, and while I know that is partly because this was my first contest, and I'm still a plankton, it's also partly because people don't have a lot of stories to tell since it's not something we see in our culture much. Of the three, two were about the kind of women that do get honored on occasion, those amazing and selfless women who just give and give to their own children and then those who have been abandoned, and all the children of the community as well. I don't know how they do it. I don't know what they're made of. They're incredible, and they really should get the honors that are bestowed upon them. Those were submitted as a post by @cheekah and a comment by @beautifulbullies that you can see on the original post.
What I really wanted to see, though, was a story of an everyday mom being honored, a story of appreciation for somebody just huffin through it day in and day out. That's why I chose @holisticmom's story. It's an everyday mom who is human and not perfect but adores her children and does all she can for them. She's a mom who has been through a lot and keeps on going. She's a mom whose children and grandchildren adore her. She's a regular mom whose friends and children appreciate and honor her. I would love her to be honored even more.
So, I have some thoughts about how we can do this on a larger scale. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you know a mom. I bet you even know a mom well enough to know what might help her out. Everyone is different. Every stage of motherhood is different. If you know a mom with young kids, offer to take the kids for a couple hours or a couple days. Drop off a gift card for a manicure or pedicure or a kid friendly restaurant or a bowling alley. If you know a mom with older kids, maybe a couple tickets to a theme park or gift card to one of those arcade and pizza places. Hell, drop off a bottle of wine. Most importantly, tell her how much you appreciate her and that you see how hard she's working, how much she loves her children and is trying to do her best for them. Tell her you're grateful for someone putting so much into raising up the next generation in a good and thoughtful way. Tell her that you notice how awesome her kids are. Few things a mama loves more than other people praising her babies.
Treasure the mama's and watch the world bloom. Lot's of love, y'all.
I treasure and adore women and this explains why women empowerment is a priority for @thegreens. Love and appreciate all the women raising our future.
So very grateful for all you are doing, and I always appreciate men who honor the women, which of course honors the children.
Keep it great post
I really wanted to get involved but I actually found it difficult to come up with a story, I really wanted to write about a mum I knew that is getting the respect and honour that she deserves but I actually don't know any. This is the reason why you asked for this in the first place and this is also why it is so important and so unbelievable at the same time. Here's to mothers getting the recognition they deserve. Thank you mama for doing this, much love to you xxx
I knew you'd get it!! I really wanted to help people see how rarely this happens. And yes. Cheers to mamas!
Ah, I missed this. But even if I didn't miss it, I don't think I can write a story of that mom. I have not been able to meet an everyday mom you described.
I totally agree on this. At least one parent should be able to stay at home with the children. If we live simply, we can achieve this. If we become too materialistic, it's not economically feasible since the current norm is for both mom and dad to go to work.
It's hard to find a mom who is getting the honor she deserves! I really hope we will find a way to support a parent through some kind of universal basic income type of thing. Simple living is definitely a part of that. I don't want anybody to buy me a jaguar. I just want to be able to spend time with my kids and play with them and help them grow and learn and still be able to feed them too. Thanks so much for the comment!
This! So much this!
I try to reach out to my mama friends here locally. Help them when I can. Whether its sit & chat for another adult to talk to, while folding laundry. Or taking a meal to a new mama.
Community with mamas is so important!
We truly do not receive recognition, nor financial recognition for the 24/7 work we do.
Precisely. It is so wonderful to hear that you are connecting with and helping other mamas. So much better to share the work with others. We really need to find more community again.
Brilliant concept! And I couldn't agree more. Mothering is treated as an after hours job in general. We are raising the next generation! They are the foundation of the future. Should they not have the best foundation for their precious lives?
I absolutely agree!! It's so very important, and quality interaction and consistency makes all the difference in raising a powerful, kind, and loving person.
So were you trying to get us to do something nice for a mom and write a out that? Or were you looking for the ways we honor other moms? As in, daily, I
Make sure to read a fellow moms work and leave a thoughtful comment.
Id love to follow along and help by participating as I think Mothers are important and should be honored on a day to day basis.
Well, I had a couple different missions. I mostly wanted to hear about ways in which mothers are being honored or treasured because I want to focus on more of that. I'd like the world to go in that direction. I also wanted people to realize how challenging this task is because it's not something we see a lot of in the world. Of course those of us who are moms are more likely to reach out to each other like you do.
After this contest, I decided to give people some ideas on ways they can honor other moms going forward. I'd love to hear more ideas on this, though. I think we can make a huge difference in the world by making sure mothers feel honored and respected - and also financially stable. The children that will come from that environment will be so much more balanced, loving, and strong. Thanks for being a part of the conversation!!
Send the mamas mail!
I always love getting sunshine in my mailbox. Include a tiny gift and im extra giddy.
That's a fabulous idea! I even love getting an email that isn't spam or sales.