About a week or so ago, I kept seeing commercials on TV I really wasn’t paying any attention to, but then it dawned on me. Those are Mother’s Day commercials, and as usual, I almost forgot. Then I called Mel, and as subtly as I could I asked, “Isn’t Mother’s Day this weekend?’, and then I was saved. “No, it’s next weekend.”. Saved by the bell, folks I have one little problem, well one of many, I can’t seem to keep up with birthdays and holidays. Except for Christmas and Thanksgiving that is. But it never fails, Mother’s Day always kind of creeps up on me. The one day a year that we pay homage to the most important ladies in our lives, and like a lot of men, if you don’t remind us, we forget about it.

But if they forget Father’s Day we take personal offense, like we are the most important member of the household. How many of you have seen the movie “Big Fat Greek Wedding?” Well, there is a line in there that says it all. “The man may be the head of the house, but the woman, she is the neck.” And if you have ever had a kink in your neck, you know if the neck doesn’t work, nothing works!!

I guess I got a rude awakening when I retired. For years, I went to work, and took care of the yard, and that was pretty much it, just like most guys. And Mel, well she had the rest, I figured it was a pretty good division of labor. Oh sure, every now and then I’d do the dishes, and then I made a big deal out of it. She never would say it, but for some reason I always felt like she would give me a look like, BIG DEAL. Or either I might on those rare occasions crank the vacuum, like I was doing her a BIG favor or something. If I knew then what I know now, I would have slept with one eye open.

Yeah I know I got up at 3:30 or 4:00 most mornings and went to work, hey she got to sleep till six-thirty. I got up, grabbed my pants and boots and was out the door, she got up fought two kids to get up, then got them to school and then she went to work. I got in around five or so, so did she, I kicked my boots off, she cooked supper. I went to bed around nine or so, she was still washing clothes. I usually got the grass cut sometime during the week so I wouldn’t have to fool with it on the weekends, on Saturday she finished up the thousand other things she didn’t get done during the week. Then on Sunday afternoon I would want to go somewhere, but she would want to catch a nap, why do you want to catch a nap, you were off yesterday? Does any of this sound familiar?

Now before somebody gets the idea I’m saying something like, well that’s her job or something, let’s go back to what I said earlier, about the head and the neck. Sometimes the head is harder than a rock, and if the neck didn’t take control, nothing would get done. Men are like a guy I knew one time, every time you asked him something, he would answer, “I’ll get it Tuesday.” Then Tuesday would roll around, and it would be the same thing, “Tuesday.” Well life doesn’t work that way, and while men sometimes don’t understand that, women seem to have an overabundance of understanding of the concept. The best example I can give you is this, how many times have you heard a guy say he built his wife the house she wanted?

No you didn’t, you built the house you all needed, and you just didn’t know it at the time. If it wasn’t for them we would all be sleeping in a tent … with a recliner in it.

But you know the most important thing there is about Mommas, it’s their love. If there is an earthly representation of God’s love for us it’s a Mother’s love for her child. She will go hungry before her child’s stomach has a chance to growl. She will freeze to death before she lets a chill touch her baby’s face. She will place her self between her child and danger, and danger itself will think twice about crossing her. And there is no power or price on this earth that will break this bond. I’m reminded of the line of a country song that said it better than I can. “Jesus and Momma always loved me, even when the devil took control.” And the bad thing about it, a lot of times it’s her love we take for granted the most.

Maybe that’s why they came up with Mother’s Day to start with, so at least one day a year we would put her first, instead of always letting her put us first. But then Monday will roll around, and things will be back to normal, and that’s a shame. Every day should be Mother’s Day, I’ve heard Fathers say a few times to kids, I brought you into this word, and I’ll take you out. No you didn’t, Momma did, without her you wouldn’t even be here.

Or the person you are today. Happy Mother’s Day!

You can reach Robbin Bruce by e-mail at robbinbruce@yahoo.com.