Celebrating mothers is a big deal!

By Monica Taiwo updated: Friday 15-05-2009

Senator Grace BentSUNDAY, the 10th of May, was dedicated as a day to celebrate motherhood; in a simple language, it was Mothers’ Day.

Many people really did not know; many who knew did not remember; those who remembered did not feel it was important. Maybe that was what led a friend of mine (male) to ask me why the fuss about women and what is so important about this gender that everyone has “something” for them, are men not equally important?

His outburst was not from a mean heart anyway, but his 11-year-old son insisted that daddy should allow all of them in the household, (she has four boys plus her husband, making five men) to celebrate Mummy, buy her a gift and probably give her a surprise later on in the day.

Not that my friend couldn’t afford it, he is up to it, but he just does not see the importance of Mummy. When I tried to explain, his reply was, I had a mother too; women only do their God-given role. Everyone seems to forget the men. I told him there is a Fathers’ Day too, but he quickly answered. “Fathers are not celebrated the way mothers are.”

After pondering over his words and actions, I asked myself this question, without bias though, “who is a woman, especially an African woman? These thoughts came to me .....

An African woman? A mother! Of course, she is black, elegant and beautiful. She is that woman who walks tall despite the heavy burden and responsibility she carries on her “frail” shoulders. She bears them all without a single complaint. Can she complain even if she wants to? No, she can’t because her fate has been determined and most often than not, her fate has been determined even before she was born.

She is the mother, the African woman, who bears all the pains and sufferings of gender discrimination in almost all spheres of life even if she is not complaining. Come to think of it, who supports her?

Unbelievable though, sometimes the stiffest opposition comes from her gender, women like her pose the stiffest opposition to her survival.
From dawn to dusk, despite her status, she toils to make sure everything works out well without any hitch, at the homefront, her career and business.
This woman, the African woman, is your mother, your sister, your wife, your daughter, someone close to your heart.

The African woman is an enigma, a pillar of strength and just like the Bible says, he who finds a good wife finds a good thing. An African woman finds favour with the Lord, the Yorubas will also say, Aponle o si fun oba ti o l’olori, any man who plans to succeed in life needs the support of a woman, gone were the days of, behind a successful man is a woman. Today, it is the world of beside every successful man, a woman has risen to the challenge as they come and change all the time. They have realised how very important it is to work hand-in-hand with their spouses.

Believe me, we cannot do without women, I pity them so much because of the level of stress they go through everyday to put things right and make sure things go well. If I say they are wheels on which “things” run, I won’t be too far from the truth.

When you see a woman, either working-class, a business woman, professional or a career woman, whatever they may be into, they are the same when it comes to the issue of the kitchen and house keeping. The first place a woman rushes into, no matter how long she had stayed in the office, shop or business environment, is the kitchen; some even go into the kitchen with their office suits on, to get the family meal ready.

Some women would, sometimes, allow the housemaid cook the family meal, some won’t hear of it, no matter how tight their work schedule.

If her husband is around, instead of being the help mate just as the Bible puts it, it’s either he is in the living room, legs on the coffee table reading the newspapers or watching the TV and listening to the evening news, while the woman has the responsibility of making things work in her second office.

Most men are guilty of leaving the house chores to their spouses. I believe our men need to take time out to help their women in the house. This doesn’t make them less whom they are - the ‘head’ of the home, because some men feel helping their spouses out with the house hold chores makes them weak. Times are changing, please, men, do something in this area.

Right from childhood, our cultural belief and heritage, have placed the girl-child at a disadvantage. Our belief does nothing to cushion the effect of the things our women go through. Most times, even in the modern age, the girl-child is brought up to feel she is a second class citizen, sure you know what I am talking about, there is the need for a reorientation.

Despite all the awareness and education, in some parts of our country, the lot of some girl-child -women of tomorrow are yet to change. Emotionally, psychologically, and physically she bears the brunt without complaint.

Then, what is your perception of a woman, why celebrate them? Do they deserve to be celebrated?

Senator (Mrs.) Grace Bent: Women are great. They make things happen; they deserve the best and should be celebrated, not only on Mothers Day but everyday. I am not saying this because I am a woman, but anyone who is lucky to have been raised and brought up by a good mother, who would stop at nothing to give her children the best, will agree with me that women should be and must be celebrated.

I love my mother, and crave her prayers all the time. She gave my siblings and I the best any child can ask for. She is a woman with a large heart full of love not only for her own children but for her husband and every other child.

A day is not enough to celebrate mothers. I thank God for the opportunity given to me to be a part of policy making, I believe the country as a whole still owe women a lot.

Mrs. Eyinoye Wande, Special Assistant, Protocol to the Oyo State Governor: A mother has strength that no one will ever know. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid; her love is unconditional. There is only one thing wrong with her; she sometimes forgets what she is worth.

Women are the best thing God created. We should and must be celebrated not once not twice but all the time.

Can you imagine what the world would be without women? If reincarnation is real, I want to come back to the world as a woman. I love my mum, I appreciate her. She made me what I am today by the grace of God. She taught me how to love, how to give and how to be accommodating. My mother is the embodiment of love, with a large heart to accommodate all. I can talk on and on about her, if permitted. Kudos to her on Mother’s Day and every other day.

Let us all come together and celebrate mothers; we are worth more than that.

Rev. Sunday Abraham Ikiedemhe; General Overseer, Soaring Eagle Christian Assembly: Women are great; they are the salt of the world. The man who finds a good woman/wife finds a great treasure. Although they are referred to as the weaker vessel, I see them as the stronger weaker vessel. Let us start from when they carry “our” baby in the womb, the labour room experience, the household chores, etc .Some of them will combine these with their professions and careers. They toil to take care of their kids and their husbands. Sometimes, this caring extends to the extended families and in-laws.

Women are mothers, wives, sisters, daughters all settle into one. They need our support and prayers. Women should be celebrated. If you have a good mother, celebrate her all the time. don’t wait until Mother’s Day. I celebrate my wife all the time. She is my jewel. I also pray for her at all times. Men should pray for their wives. They are our pillars

The government should, as a matter of policy, create more enabling environment for both the girl-child and women.

Eunice Thomas, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Welfare, Akwa Ibom State: I am a woman and I am proud to be one. Women should be celebrated and encouraged in all ramifications.

We are not mothers to only our biological children; we are also mothers to the nation.

Put a woman in any post or position, the motherly instinct in her will be exhibited at all times and that is why we always succeed in all we do.

Combining the home career and so many things together sometimes could be difficult but most women do so without complaint.

Give us kudos for labour room and pregnancy trauma. If you see a man who is successful, of course, there must be a woman supporting her. If not his wife, it could be his mother.

We should be celebrated; the girl-child should be encouraged. We nurture the nation and the world.

Archbishop J. O. Akinfenwa: It is necessary to celebrate women. They are our mothers. Every human being came from a mother, a woman. Women are a gift from God, to the world. They are created by God. It is necessary to celebrate women, appreciate them for whom they are and what they represent.

Celebrating them is also a way of appreciating God for the gift of womanhood. Mothers’ Day celebration is good and necessary.

Let’s do ourselves a favour, ask yourself these questions —

Is the African woman really the weaker sex?

Should she be celebrated?

Is Mothers’ Day a necessary?

Love a woman, bless her and celebrate her always, no matter what your answers are.

Monica Taiwo.