Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Rights, Responsibilities, and Privileges


I love Pomp and Circumstance; I love Commencement. The end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

As a parent, I've attended my share of these, and each one is special. We celebrate each other by acknowledging our student's achievements combined with heightened expectations.

As degrees are conferred, we often hear that in addition to that degree, the graduate is now granted all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges that come with their degree. I heard this phrase repeatedly uttered at a college graduation I attended. Repetition, among other things, signals emphasis; it was as if the school administrators wanted each graduate to leave that ceremony with the tangible and intangible benefits of graduating (just in case they don't hear this message enough). 

As a graduate, there is an unspoken agreement that you can


Friday, May 12, 2023

I'll Never Tire of Mother's Day

Some people have a love-hate relationship with Mother's Day. I'm not one of those people; I absolutely love the day.

Motherhood is no easy task, and anything we do to celebrate mothers is worthwhile. Now I'm not saying go out and spend money you don't have, but if a day forces you to acknowledge what you can be doing often, then it's worthwhile.

And I know some don't have the best relationship with their mothers; I know all mothers aren't saints or well-meaning. I know motherhood might have been a surprise for some, and they didn't handle it well. I know some mothers never treated their offspring kindly. This is the complexity of human nature that we all wrestle with.



I had no aspirations of being a mother, yet I became one four times over. For me, motherhood forced me to grow; to view life differently through the lens of a child at various stages. Motherhood empowered me; it made me realize that I could do things differently, especially if I didn't like the way things were done to me and how they made me feel. Motherhood made me smarter; I learned to listen to my children recognizing there is lots of wisdom in the mouth of babes. Motherhood gave me discernment forcing me to do what's best for me and mine. Motherhood humbled me; I know nothing, yet these little ones are looking at me like I must know everything. And though I never planned on it, motherhood taught me sacrifice. I've sacrificed goals and possessions in the name of putting others needs before mine. I didn't even know I could do this, but I did it over and over again. One last thing - motherhood made me realize I'm multifaceted. I can do many things, including being a mom. Motherhood is not the be all and end-all that we sometimes make it out to be.

I think humans are wired for acknowledgement and affirmation. This day was initially created to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children. When we honor another person, we are showing that their efforts are not in vain and they are not taken for granted. It's very easy to take people for granted, even if you never intended to. Everyone needs a pat on the back, if only for a day.

I hope you'll make the best of the day regardless of your situation. Enjoy the day and the weekend.

--Nylse

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