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/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Laid Back Parents Guide to Teaching Your Child to Read
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet
The biggest trick some child predators' are using these days... Read More
Talk Your Child Clever
Most parents can hardly wait for their baby to say... Read More
Tips for the Classroom Teachers with ADHD Students
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
Anorexia Nervosa Alert - is Your Daughter Dying To Be Thin?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically... Read More
SMUT Spelled Backwards is TUMS
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
Parenting Your Teenager: The Trust Issue
Q. How do we decide what our teens should be... Read More
Three Sure-Fire Ways to Teach Your Child About Safety
Levels of SafetyBy teaching our children there are different levels... Read More
Overscheduled Kids
Time devoted the better part of an issue to it.... Read More
What To Do With A 6 Year Old Smart Mouth Know It All
Just the other day, I was talking to some other... Read More
Break Free From Power Struggles
You want your daughter to wear a dress to the... Read More
Potty Training Caveats- Dont Start Too Soon
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
Developing a Fantastic Relationship with Your Child
Here's a scene: A parent "might suddenly grab a happliy... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid Them: Top 5 Internet Safety Tips
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
Imaginations Soar
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
Building Self Confidence
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
You Make Me Sick And Other Things Parents Say in Anger
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
What Are Your Children Really Watching?
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
A New Dad To Be? Deer in the headlights?
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
How Can I Teach My Child Respect?
A common theme over the past 20 years has been... Read More
A Minute Can Turn into Hours for the Child of a Work-at-Home Mom
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But... Read More
Life Lessons Learned in My Underwear
For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More
ADD / ADHD Children : Being Your Childs Best Friend
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
What Might Surprise You About Childhood Obesity
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
Gaining a Child?s Trust
My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks... Read More
Preparing Your Child for the Three Rs
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More
Raising Teenagers? Stay C.A.L.M.
Parents of teenagers frequently ask what can be done to... Read More
10 Universal Laws for Parents of Teens
1 "Law of Belonging": The greatest need of teenagers (after... Read More
How to Get Your Children Brand Free
Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
Parenting Your Teenager: What Parents Say About Teens
What is hard for parentsLetting them learn from their mistakes.Trying... Read More
Second Letter to My Daughter
Dear Camille,As I thumb through the photographs that I carry... Read More
Parents - Create An Emotionally Healthy Connection With Your Child
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Achieve Success At School - Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor-Roll Students!
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
Finding Out Your Child Has a Disability: Its Not the end of the World
Finding out that a child has been born with a... Read More
Picky Eater Kid Nutritional Guidelines
Although many children are picky eaters at some stage in... Read More
5 Solid Reasons: Why Your Child Can Be An Achiever
All of us, including your child, entered this world equipped... Read More
Reincarnation: Sacred Children Series - 1 of 3
Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More
What Julia Roberts has to Say about Motherhood
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
How to Teach Anger Management to Your Child
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
My Dads Secrets
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
How Public Schools Lie to Parents and Betray Our Children
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
Playful Parenting - More than Just Fun and Games
Early childhood educators have called play "children's work". Many parents... Read More
Childhood Obesity
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
Is There Any Real Use For A Fun Quiz?
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
Friends Are A Gift You Give Yourself
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
Communication Mistakes Parents Often Make - And Easy Ways To Correct Them
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
Children Cooperate When Appreciated
Do you want your child to cooperate with you more?Children... Read More
Your Job as a Role Model
A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More
Are You Reading to Your Kids?
Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More
Whos Your Daddy? How to be a Great Dad in 5 to 7 Minutes
I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
How To Teach Your Children Courage
Courage means doing the right thing when it is hard,... Read More
A Little Love, Please?
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share... Read More
Words of Wisdom for Single Parents
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
Diagnosing ADHD in Children, an Introduction
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
Children Need Roots and Wings
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Adoption: Laughter and Tears
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
Summer Camp Care Packages
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks... Read More
Punishing the Victim -- Why Public Schools Pressure Parents To Give Their Kids Mind-Altering Drugs
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
The Giving Jar
Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More
Protect your Kids Early with Safety Glasses
What exactly makes safety glasses different from regular glasses? There... Read More
Unschooling - the Benefits of Home Based Education
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
When A Parent Is Deployed
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
Putting Your Child To Bed
Are you glad for the chance to put your child... Read More
Study Skills - How Can YOU Help Your Kids?
Some years ago when touring the Scottish Highlands, a man... Read More
Four Tips For Alleviating Back To School Anxiety
Back to school preparations are in full-swing. Soon, the first... Read More
Why have children? DINCs, This is For You!
First there were Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals). Then came the... Read More
Parenting |