Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day in advance of Sunday. I obviously have no clue what is like to be a mother (unless you count on the dance floor, then I’m one bad mother). But as a father, I get to see  firsthand how important a mother is in raising children. Speaking of being a father, it’s amazing to see the subtle differences between a mother’s relationship with her kids and a father’s.  It’s just little things, for example, if my boys fall and scrape their knees, they will most likely look for my wife. When they want to play swords, they’ll most likely call on dad.

My wife, like all mothers out there, has a tough gig. You have to juggle work, home life, and in my wife’s case, a husband who spends most his evenings talking like Sean Connery.  Believe me, it’s marginally funny for a few minutes, but it’s tough to enjoy your lasagna when you’re sitting across from a guy calling you Miss.Moneypenny.

**Cliché alert!!!**

When it comes to parenting, kids don’t come with manuals.  All you really have to go on is your instincts and maybe your own childhood as a reference. Fortunately, looking back at my childhood, it has definitely helped me figure out this parenting thing many times.  I was very lucky and had two wonderful, supportive, loving parents growing up.  Sadly, my mum passed away when I was 20 years old and I miss her every day since.  As you can imagine, Mother’s Day is always a bit tough for me, as it would be for anybody who has lost their mum.

My mother was my world. So much so that when I was in kindergarten, she had to become a lunch room supervisor just so I would go to school. Here was the deal, if mum wasn’t going to school, I wasn’t either. We were a tandem deal as far as I was concerned. I kid you not, my mum being a lunch room supervisor lasted ’til grade 6. It would’ve lasted all throughout high school too if they allowed parents do that sort of thing. There is no question about it, I was a momma’s boy through and through. Even in those extremely self-conscious teenage years, I was never embarrassed about it.  Whatever my mum told me to do I did it. I’ll give you a real life example. I remember specifically going out with some pals, and like most kids, I was dressed completely inappropriate for the winter conditions.  As we headed out the door, my mum told me to put on boots and a winter jacket, and within seconds I changed. My friends couldn’t believe it, no argument, nothing!  When my pals later asked why I changed, I said I don’t know, I just did it.  Mum knows best right?

As I mentioned, not a day goes by that I don’t think about her. I often think about some of life’s monumental moments that we never got to enjoy together.  Moments like graduating college, fulfilling my dream of being on the radio, meeting my wife, my wedding day, and of course the births of my children.  I know that my mum is there with me in spirit, and I want her to know that she helped mold me into the man that I am today.  My mum, along with my dad, are the reason why I can say I’m a proud husband, father and son.

If you’re spending the day with your mum on Sunday, I hope you have a wonderful time together. If you happen to be a mother, I hope your child(ren) spoil you.

Happy Mother’s Day to my wonderful wife Charlene and to all of you.