The Superior Express -

This Mother’s Day we salute the moms who continue to endure sheltering at home or lockdown as some refer to it. The mom that never thought she would have to home school her children or the mom who knows full well now, she was never meant to be a teacher but has so much more appreciation for her little darlings’ teacher. The mom who referees who gets the devices and fights the daily battle of limiting screen time when the youngsters defend their Wi-Fi position, “but it’s schoolwork!”

We salute the grandmothers who aren’t able to visit their grandchildren or snuggle with their newest grandbaby. Granted they are thankful for Facetime and Zoom but it’s not the same. We owe a salute to the mothers who are not afraid to let their children leave the security of their home territory and drop them off at Grandpa and Grandma’s. Some mothers are wise enough to recognize grandma is a better teacher.

The moms who have had helped bring other “kids” into the world during calving while her own house is overflowing with emotions, sibling unrest and feeding a growth spurt that added to the joys of cooking with limited trips to the grocery store. For those farm moms who have done their time in the tractor helping get the crops in, the lucky ones got their corn in by the end of April and now has the whole month of May to dedicate to her flowers and yard, instead of corn and beans. Maybe this year she’ll plant a garden, or plant a bigger one.

We salute the moms who didn’t get to see their son or daughter go to prom, but hopefully, they made memories shopping for the dress and tux. Many of those same moms are struggling with what kind of graduation party to plan. But their creativity and resilience are shining through as they find ways to celebrate their senior graduate. At least these moms won’t have to worry about shedding a few tears and embarrassing their grad when they accept their diploma or degree.

We salute the moms who are on the front line in our hospitals, driving trucks making sure the supply chain for all essentials keeps moving, for the moms and grandmothers who clock in for their shift in the meat processing plants. We stand with the mothers who worry and pray for their daughters and sons who are in these same essential and vital roles. We pray for the mom who is out of work and do our part by leaving bigger tips when we pick up our curbside order.

Our sympathies and prayers to those who will face the first Mother’s Day without their mom. No card to buy, no flowers to deliver, and no phone call or Mother’s Day dinner. Remember they are in our hearts and are watching over us, especially during these challenging times.

And we tip out hat (which we are sporting more than ever!) to the single moms who are valiantly balancing home schooling, caring for their youngsters and working.

Congratulations to all the first time Mother’s Day, mothers. We suggest you save the card for your baby’s baby book as its been quite a year so far! For the babies who will grow up to sign their Mother’s card, “Love, Covid or Love, Rona,” your mother has a sense of humor.

Husbands and children, what mom really wants this year, is a cut and color and a mani and pedi! Please support her stylist and buy a gift card and maybe bribe them to be first on the appointment list. Mother or not, all women cannot wait to return to a civilized society of no gray roots showing, no shaggy mullets for those with short hair, no more cuticles, and nail polish smeared around the edges and above all that no one knows we really aren’t a blonde. Please give us strength to resist the temptations of scissors and a box of L’Oréal hair color. And we are tired of looking at some of the men in our lives who look like Bozo the clown!

Finally, we raise a glass for all the women who will surely be celebrating their first Mother’s Day next year. Wink. Wink.