Mother's Day is every day: honoring our strong mothers

When you need good advice, to whom do you turn? The answer is different for everyone. When I need to hear words of wisdom, I turn to my mother. She’s always right. Sunday is Mother’s Day. Like so many other people, I will spend it thinking about how wonderful my mother is.

(So, Fellas, this is your friendly reminder to start buying stuff if you haven’t already).

And even after the holiday is over, we should always keep in mind the sacrifices our mothers make. My mother cares for me and loves me unconditionally – even when I likely don’t deserve it. And she’s always got good ideas for me, especially when it comes to the newspaper.

Throughout my time in journalism, I’ve gotten some of my best story ideas from my mom. When I think back on my most meaningful works, I think about a column I penned in the fall of 2019. In that column, I talked about my affinity for my college, Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It’s a small college, and when I first started there, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the longer I was there, the more I began to enjoy it.

My mom suggested that I write a column for high school seniors who were then in the midst of their college search processes. She said telling those students that small colleges are just as good as big ones would help ease their nerves.

After all, just a year prior, I had been the kid who was worried sick about picking the right college. At first, I thought it was a corny topic. But I did what she said, and that column has been one of my most popular columns of all time. I got feedback from parents whose children read it and took it to heart. The teachers and staff at my college loved it. And it was even picked up by a couple of other newspapers.

That was exciting for me, and it was all because of Momma. She was right. She’s got a good eye for stories, and she’s got a big heart for animals. Whenever one of my cattle-raisin’ friends has a calf that needs some extra attention, my mom is there. For the last two years, she’s been raising a calf she named Dollie. Dollie’s mother couldn’t care for her, so my mother brought Dollie to our house.

My mom bottle-fed Dollie from the time Dollie was two weeks old. Two years later, she has become the most gentle, playful calf I’ve ever seen. Mom has a wealth of knowledge about feeding and nurturing young bovines, and she gladly shares her knowledge with anyone and everyone who needs it. She’s as right as rain when it comes to raising little ones. Luckily for me, I am one of her little ones. Though she adores her pets, she puts her heart and soul into caring for my family. Between keeping my dad, my sister and me in line, my mom has a lot on her plate. But she never utters a hurtful word, and she makes us feel loved.

When my sister and I were younger, my mom made sure we were at school on time and looking our best. And when she brought us home, she made our days brighter. Sometimes, we just needed a shoulder to cry on. She was there. My mom has shown me what the meaning of “motherly love” really is, and I know I’m better off for having been loved by her.

So, Folks, this weekend, find ways to honor your mother or the mother figures in your life. While we only devote one day a year to these powerful, loving women, we should be grateful each and every day for what they have done for us. Every so often, someone says to me, “Your parents raised you right.” When I hear that, I just smile. Why? Because I know they’re telling the truth.