The act of "mothering" is an act of love, protection, support, and guidance, and "motherhood" is a title that is earned.

Mother's Day is the time we think about positive relationships between mother and child, but in modern day society, motherhood has changed because the family structure has changed. "Mothering" is a conscious, deliberate act that assures a child's safety, physical nourishment, and emotional growth. "Motherhood" is a title that is earned.

Despite slogans like, "Children should be seen and not heard," children have always needed emotional support.  They have always needed to feel safe, not just in their neighborhoods but also in their ability to express feelings without fear of punishment or rejection. 

 

Along with the need for protection, guidance, and opportunities to learn, children need to know they have some control over shaping their destinies. This requires emotional competence.

 

For children to build emotional competence, they must develop a self-concept, and they must learn to empathize with others. Empathy is empowering because it provides the opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone else.

 

According to the Harvard Business Review, "empathy is one of the toughest and most important competencies to develop."  Building empathy begins early in life and is reinforced over time. Unfortunately, there is no "crash course" that teaches empathy.  It happens one day at a time throughout childhood or with hard work, it happens one day at a time after adulthood.

Mothers provide a safe, supportive home environment and opportunities for their children to explore, experience, and learn. By providing positive examples for their children to follow, mothers teach empathy and self-respect, which enables children to build emotional competence and close any gaps between who they are and who they wish to become. 

 

If the groundwork has been properly laid, children naturally build emotional competence and become who they wish to be. That's when they understand the true meaning of "Mother's Day."