D.A.D. Pays Homage to the Moms of the World

Russ Crespolini and I began this into the lives of the modern day father, his role, how it has evolved, and how we see ourselves fitting in. Of course, our goal is to hear from you, the reader, and get your experiences as well.

But we’re going to turn the tables this week, and give the Moms of the world (and there’s a lot of them) the credit they deserve. After all, Sunday is Mother’s Day, and the least we could do is write a few words about them.

When we celebrate Mother’s Day, we consider our own mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and so on. But it wasn’t until I became a father that I realized the true role and importance that a woman plays in the life of a child.

I came from a single parent home, raised solely by mother. She was a working mom, doing what she needed to support her family and give her only child everything he could’ve asked for.

I grew up, celebrated her on the second Sunday of each May, and went about my business, not really grasping the breadth of responsibility a mother has.

And then I watched my wife, Nancy, give birth to our two children. It was amazing. It was inspiring. It was humbling.

Let’s face it–Mother’s Day was invented for a woman to say out loud, I went through pain a man will never understand, now pamper me and take care of the kids while I’m out of the house all day.

After watching my two sons enter the world, as beautiful as it was, I don’t blame Nancy–or any mother for that matter–for taking up on any and all freebies on this holiday.

The sheer act of laboring and giving birth, no matter how it ends up–from all natural to C-section and everything in between–deserves about as much respect as anything else in this world. And some of these women do it more than once!

So, to you Dads out there who may be nonchalant this Sunday, and see it as one less chance to hit the driving range, remember every time you look at the kids you love so much just how they got there. And don’t forget every time you look in the mirror, how you came to be as well.

My wife is now a mother two times over, and I’ll do whatever I can this Sunday to honor all the sacrifices she’s made by having our boys.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or one who’s grinding out 50-hour work weeks for the sake of her family, let me just say, on behalf of all of us Dads, thank you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

For those of you who’d like to comment on this article, feel free to send a public shout or thank you to that special Mom in your life.

Russ’s Ravings

This last year or so there has been a shift in the mother status in my house, and it is one I am still getting used to. In the last 18 months my wife gave birth to my daughter, my sister gave birth to my niece and my grandmother, matriarch of our clan, passed away. Suddenly my mother was now Grandma and there were two new "moms" in the family mix.

My Grandmother and I always had a special relationship. We just adored each other and I feel her loss every day. But watching my mother with my daughter, I can see the same spark. The slight spoiling. The over attentiveness. I see my Grandmother when I see my mother with my little girl.

When I see my sister, who could not be more different than me if she tried, I can now see my mother reflected in her when she is with my niece.

We often give lip service when we talk about the circle of life, but this is one I see first hand. It is amazing to see my Grandmother and me when I watch my mother with my daughter. Or to think of my own childhood when I see my sister with my niece.

I am blessed with amazing women in my life who became amazing mothers. My wife did it effortlessly. And without her, being a Dad, modern or not, would be infinitely harder. So this mother's day I am taking care of the kids while my wife, my mother and my sister spend an evening out together.

And I know wherever she is, my Grandmother will be with them.