Nothing Like a Mothers Love

Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably started with the family vacation we took every year when I was young. But in all my travels, I have seen another universal theme, a common symbol of unity, love and Peace.

Mom. She's got the big love. From Ethiopia to Seattle, mothers protect us ? the offspring. When we grow up, we may leave her house to build our own, and her cooking to add more flavors to our palates, but she's still the woman that held us to her breast, nurturing and cooing to us, her most-loved child. She would do anything to protect her child.

Koko is not a mother. I'm fascinated by her. She's a 33-year old lowland gorilla who, since infancy, has been working with Dr. Francine "Penny" Patterson. With her ability to "talk" to Penny using sign language and a vocabulary of more than 900 words, she speaks of having a baby. Often. Achingly. Her motherly gentleness and protective instincts were displayed when she got a kitten as a companion. This 280 pound ape cradles the kitten, stroking it and purring to it while signing "baby, baby" over and over.

Even Koko, childless, mourns the lost opportunity. But she also doesn't have the heartache of lost children due to the nonsense that goes on in the world today -- drugs, murder, mental torment and wars.

If mothers ruled the world, would there ever be another war? Not if my mom ruled? And probably not yours? Disputes would be settled over a cup of tea, and everyone would end up laughing. On The Cat's Cradle (a favorite blog,) I read this story about Julia Ward Howe's first Mother's Day in 1870 called Mother's Peace Day. Julia, author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, wrote a proclamation which begins with:

Arise then...women of this day!

Arise, all women who have hearts!

Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:

"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,

Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,

For caresses and applause.

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn

All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We, the women of one country,

Will be too tender of those of another country

To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

Julia Ward Howe, Mother's Day Proclamation, 1870

Imagine all the mothers of the world stopping their sons, husbands, and fathers. All the mothers of the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Koreans, the Japanese; all the mothers of the the blacks, the whites, the straights, the gays; all the mothers of the Republicans and the Democrats . . . All the mothers saying:

Enough. Enough! Wouldn't you like some tea.

David Perdew
Writer / Photographer / Consultant
http://www.WorldWantingPeace.com
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1883095
http://www.60DaysTo100K.com http://catcradle.typepad.com/the_cats_cradle/

In The News:

---

Let Kids Help

One fantastic way to get your children involved in what... Read More

ADHD: Some Survival Strategies for Parents

In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More

Childhood Obesity

Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More

Refresher Course on Diapering for Dads

It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Ask Yourself Some Questions

Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her... Read More

Pet Loss Can Be Just As Devastating!

'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More

Teach Your Children How To Resolve Conflict Without Using Anger Or Power

Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More

Develop Your Childs Genius: The King of Games - the Game of Kings

Many people still think that the game of chess is... Read More

An Overview of Alternative Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant... Read More

Picky Eater - Fighting the Good Fight

Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More

Managing Your Stepfamily

If you are a member of a stepfamily, you know... Read More

Challenges for Our Children

Researchers have estimated that 25-35% of children in the United... Read More

Diaper Bags for Dads - Papas Got a Brand New Bag

Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More

Dyslexia: Is the Shoe Perhaps on the Wrong Foot?

Reading is the most important skill that a child must... Read More

Diana, Princess of Whales

Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More

Banishing Bedtime Blues

"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More

Parental Internet Control Tips

The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all... Read More

Mom vs. Dad: Navigating Parenting Differences With All Good Intentions

Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More

Bless Your Child With The Name

What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: Self-Decorating or Self-Harm - How to Tell the Difference

Q. I need your help with a question about my... Read More

Nail Biting Basics

Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic... Read More

Stress is No Kiddy Matter

Kids today no longer live the kind of privileged lives... Read More

How Public Schools Lie to Parents and Betray Our Children

Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More

Keeping the Stress out of Single Parenting

Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More

Baptisms And Alternative Ways To Hold A Naming Ceremony

Traditionally, babies have been named at a christening/baptism.... Read More

Making Internet Chat Safe For Your Children

No matter what you say or do, your kids will... Read More

Unilateral Disarmament - The First Step to Improving Communications with Your Teenagers

Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More

Parents of Teens: Do You Ever Ask WHY is she so MEAN to me?

Do you ever wonder what is behind the occasional nasty... Read More

?I?M OVERWHELMED? -- 5 Tips On How Parents Can Take Control Of Their Lives

Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More

Whats in a Name?

My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when... Read More

Why Modern Moms Are Going Back to the Basics ? The Evolution of the Cloth Diaper

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times... Read More

Parenting Confidence - Who Needs It?

It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More

5 Ways To Tell If A Preschooler Is Living In Your House

1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More