Mothers of Ancient times or modern day- we are all in the "hood"

 

While today we view Mothers day as a Hallmark holiday in the beginning of times it was anything but hallmark worthy.

Ancient times

In the early years of the Roman Empire, women had little power: they were expected to be mothers and run household tasks. Infertility was grounds for a divorce. Women did not have a choice between having children or not, and also were not able to overrule the husband if he wanted to get rid of a newborn. After birth, babies were placed at the father’s feet. If he picked the child up, he “recognized” it as his, but if he left it where it was, the child was left to die by exposure. Later, as women gained economic power, Roman mothers exercised a genuine influence over family decisions.

Medieval times


Women generally had 4-6 pregnancies over the course of twenty childbearing years. With a high rate of miscarriages and still births, women were either pregnant or nursing for most of their adult lifespan. (Up until the 18th century, 25% of children born in England died in their first year.)
For women of all social classes, raising a son to adulthood was the only means of securing their own support in old age.



Early modern motherhood
Motherhood in early modern times has been described as “nasty, brutish, and far from short” – like Medieval women, early modern women spent about fifteen years either pregnant or nursing their children. Mothers wrapped their children in swaddling bands, thought to make limbs grow strong and straight. There are some accounts of peasant mothers hanging their swaddled babies on hooks to keep them out of the way while the women performed their exhausting amount of daily chores. Babies were also carried out to the fields and placed near where their mothers worked, sometimes secured in trees.


Industrial Revolution

While motherhood usually refers to the direct personal care aspects of mothering, the woman’s ability to contribute to the income of the household can also be considered a form of motherhood. So, it’s natural to expect that an economic force like the Industrial Revolution would reshape the role and perception of motherhoodkey in upgrading motherhood to a teaching position. Protestantism held that mothers were expected to read the Bible to their children, and to instruct their children in reading and religious knowledge. Of course, women were still restricted from official positions in the church, and many women in lower social classes remained illiterate, but the foundations of women as educators were laid.1930's
The 1930s marked a radical shift in family structure and the ideals of family life: a ‘good’ mother did not work, and women who did pursue careers were stigmatized as selfish women, devoid of a proper maternal instinct and nature. The Great Depression only furthered the need for a mother to keep the family together, while the man was out trying to provide for his family.

1940's
The role of mothers became even more crucial and demanding with husbands and sons off to war. The war years caused most families incredible hardship. Around five million war widows were left alone to cook, clean, and care for the children. Making up for the workforce lost overseas, many women were also trying to hold down factory jobs which demanded long hours. Stresses and strains of separation and war trauma caused a spike in the divorce rate after the war.

1950's
Marriage and birth rates soared at the end of the war, and women were again placed in charge of housekeeping and raising the family. The 1950s encouraged the ideal of the ‘stable’ and ‘model’ family and the American Dream.  The ideal family, judging from the advertisements, blurbs, and social pressures of our time, is also one that it is constantly endeavoring to raise its standard of living by security better houses, automobiles, education, radio and television sets, and in a not too aggressive fashion by attempting to climb the social ladder with all of its neat class stratifications.

1960's

Most American women in the Sixties were mothers and housewives, volunteering at churches and PTAs. Business and politics remained almost exclusively controlled by men. Women did start to work more outside of the home, but those who did were still in the minority.In a huge leap forward for women’s choice in having children.

1970's

Another significant change occurring in the family structure was the role of the mother. Whereas her responsibility and duty had been based solely in the care and upbringing of her child, the role of ‘educator’ was now being relegated to professionals. Children as young as two and three years old were sent to pre-schools, allowing mothers to pursue careers as well as have a family.

Over the many span of years covered here the common thread is motherhood.

To me the word alone offers a suggestion of a common bond a belonging, a "hood". 

 Being a mother for 31 years now has allowed me to hold a position of high esteem.  Our children are chosen for us, be it through birth or adoption and HE who chooses them for us is only loaning them to us.  If I borrow something from someone I am careful to be especially mindful that it isn't mine to do with what I wish, it belongs to someone else.  So it is with your children.  The Lord gives them to us and the Lords takes them away.

This gift I was given, the honor or motherhood is one I cherish each day.

I try to take care of these gifts with my whole heart being careful not to mistreat, take advantage, or discount them in anyway.  You see I did not become a mother through any powers of my own they were given to me and through HIS grace and mercy I would like to keep them!

To Mike, Ashley and Cameron

I wanted you more than you will ever know,
so I sent love to follow wherever you go.

It's high as you wish it. It's quick as an elf.
You'll never outgrow it..... it stretches itself.

So climb any mountain....
climb up to the sky!
My love will find you my love can fly!

Make a big splash! Go out on a limb!
My love will find you . My love can swim.

It never get's lost, never fades, never ends...............

If your working.....
or playing.....
or sitting with friends.

You can dance til you're dizzy............
paint til you're blue.....
There's no place, not one,
that my love can't find you.

And if someday you're lonely,
or someday you're sad,
or you strike out at baseball,
or think you've been bad....

Just lift up you're face, feel the wind in your hair.
That's me my sweet babies, my love is right there.

In the green of the grass....
in the smell of the sea.. in the clouds floating by...
at the top of a tree... in the sound crickets make
at the end of the day...

you are loved. You are loved. you are loved, they all say.

My love is so high, and so wide and so deep, it's always right there, even
when you're asleep.

So hold you're head high
and don't be afraid to
march to the front of
your own parade.

If you're still my small babe,
or you're all the way grown,
my promise to you is
you're never alone.

You are my angels, my darlings,
my stars.... and my Love will find you
wherever you are.