Mother's Day Thoughts

I read this piece about Mother's Day earlier this week: Why I Hate Mother's Day. Here is my reaction: 

If America is sentimental about the role of mothers, they are almost worshiped in India. In the popular Indian culture mothers are usually portrayed as sacrificial, selfless beings who are ever ready to bend themselves backward, sideways for the betterment of their kids. Motherhood is viewed as a defining role for women in India.

Even so, in spite of Bollywood going out of its way to worship motherhood instead of treating it as just another role played by women in their lives, most of us (Indian mothers) will identify more with the protagonist of the recent popular movie, English Vinglish, where the mother is berated for her inability to talk in English and is generally taken for granted.

Mother's Day is a fairly recent and urban phenomenon in India. I don’t hate Mother’s Day or even love it for that matter. However, I find it hard to believe that someone will not like being treated specially on one day in a year. My daughter makes a card for me almost every year on Mother’s Day but she has also ignored it some years. Do I hold it against her if she decides to ignore it or totally forgets about Mother’s Day? Hell NO. It is hardly an issue. However, I would be lying if I say that I don’t like receiving a card from her on Mother’s Day (this year I got a `Best Mom' cup also, btw). It is an appreciation and acknowledgement of being there for her and who does not like that. But I would have done whatever I did for my daughter even if there is no acknowledgement...I want to play my role to the best of my abilities in the circle of life. 

Yes, it is not a traditional festival and benefits only Archies or Hallmark. But should we stop celebrating a festival because it benefits few corporates or if few people feel sad on that particular day for whatever reason. It is like saying that we should not celebrate Christmas/Diwali because some people met with tragedy on that day; it is like saying that I should not have a grand wedding because it will add to the anguish of my single friends. Oh Comeon, that’s not how it works…and we all know it.

However, I do agree with the author on one account--just being a woman does not really mean that you will be a good mother. I have seen mothers who are positively abusive--verbally and physically. So lets not put mothers on a pedestal and expect the world out of them...let us treat them with respect and love all through the year.