A shout out to all the mums on this special week where we honour our mums.

I write this article on what would have been my mother’s 90th birthday. Even many years after her departure, her legacy lives on. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I see her expression. I make a comment and I suddenly realise it was something Mum used to say. My husband would be the first to agree I have her stubborn and determined nature! But alongside that she had a huge capacity for compassion. I didn’t really acknowledge our similarities while she was with us, but I now realise the huge deposit she has left behind in the lives of those she spent time with. She wasn’t exactly my loudest cheerleader, but I know she was quietly proud of my achievements.
Never underestimate the influence of a mother. From the day a child is born, it is the mother’s voice more than all others that activates areas of the baby’s brain, creating neural pathways necessary for development. In 2012 a large study was conducted on school-aged children. It discovered that those children who had been positively supported by their mothers had a larger hippocampus than those who had not received the same level of support. The hippocampus is an area of the brain that plays a major role in memory and learning. Mums, your presence and support in your child’s life actually improves their ability to learn.
There are many great achieving men and women in history who have attributed their success to the support shown by their mother. Thomas Edison was the seventh and last child of his mother Nancy. He attended school for a few short months and struggled (it is now believed Edison had ADHD). One day he overhead the teacher describe him as “addled”, mentally deficient, and it was not worthwhile keeping him in school. Thomas returned home crying. As an adult Thomas recounted that day: “My mother came out as my strong defender. She brought me back to the school and angrily told the teacher that he didn’t know what he was talking about, that I had more brains than he himself, and a lot more talk like that. In fact, she was the most enthusiastic champion a boy ever had. I determined right then that I would be worthy of her and show her that her confidence was not misplaced.” For the next nine years Nancy home schooled Thomas. She passed away a few years prior to Edison’s greatest discovery, but her faith in her son continued to propel Thomas forward long after her passing.
Mums, regardless of your children’s age, you are the important person in the world to them. Whether you are changing dirty nappies; helping with homework; teaching to drive (biggest parent challenge right there); walking them down the aisle or minding the grandkids – you are more influential than you realise. Have a well-deserved break on your special day!
Linda Gray
linda@relationshipsanctuary.com.au
0401 517 243