May is Beef month. It’s also a time to recognize mothers.
Those two things got me to thinking, even though I don’t know any woman that would want to be compared to a cow (me included)!
Beef producers often pick mother cows based on a few criteria, one being their ability to raise a calf to weaning. She has to be attentive, a good milker, and hopefully one that will help put the pounds on the calf. Bonus if she has a heifer calf and can pass all her positive traits on to her.
Beef month gives producers and consumers alike an opportunity to celebrate and recognize those producers who continue to raise the best beef in the world. There’s nothing more fulfilling than producing a quality product that consumers want.
The creators of Mother’s Day intended to use the second Monday of May to celebrate and honor the contributions, sacrifices and love of mothers and maternal figures, at least according to Google. Advertisers start promoting gifts for mothers shortly after Valentine’s Day, and people should have no excuse not to recognize their own mothers.
Growing up, we often celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom’s family. I remember being with my mother, my Grandma Wetzel and my great-grandmother, along with many aunts and family friends. It was a different time back then. We’d go to church then share a meal together, wearing our Sunday best. There was often a flower or arrangement that accompanied a card. We spent a lot of quality time together for many years.
There are women who yearn to be a mother. Those who are just made for it. They mothered their dolls, siblings and pets. I was not one of those women. Deep down, I was indifferent to the thought of being a mother. However, I had dogs and horses and managed to keep them alive for many years.
My oldest son happened to have been born on Mother’s Day in 2011. Quite the shock to the system for a first-time mother to have her first child delivered on that holiday. He says that he’s the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever gotten. I won’t admit it to him, but he’s probably right. Although he tests my patience daily, and sometimes more than once a day!
Celebrate came from the mid-15th century Latin word celbratus, meaning “much-frequented; kept solemn; famous,” or to “assemble to honor.” I struggle with being honored on Mother’s Day. Being a mom is hard. The struggle with making the right choices, worrying whether you’re ruining them or that you’re raising good kids is ongoing for me.
Recently I’ve begun to feel as though they don’t need me for anything except money. They’re off doing their own things and that’s an adjustment for me. Once my oldest got his farm permit and he had a vehicle to drive, he was going to school and the farm when there was work for him. Although it’s nice to have him available to pick up stuff from town, it’s still a change for me to not be in charge of the schedule.
I ran across a social media post recently and it said, “Sometimes, being a momma is hard. But you were made to raise your babies, through the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, and most especially, through times like these.”
I hope whoever wrote that is right. What have you done to get through the difficult phases of raising kids?
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
