Fathers And Mothers

Mothers and fathers. They are so important to all of our lives. They have the greatest influence on our lives than anyone else. But over the last few decades I feel that the importance of these roles have been lost from our society. First let’s look at motherhood.

                In todays world we have been taught that motherhood is unwanted. The world has taught women that if they want to be valued then they must have a career and being a mother comes second if at all. So many women pursue careers putting of marriage and families. How has this changed so drastically from a time when women didn’t work at all and dedicated their whole lives to taking care of a family and the home. They were with there children all the time and often had more children then we do today.

                Now I’m not saying that I don’t think women should work or that there is only one way of being a mother. But there are so many quality’s that we have lost. Let’s look at the benefits of having a mother in the home. Children need to be nurtured and they need the guidance of a mother. During the past the mother was there with the children through the whole day. They would help their children with school, play, relationships with others and so much more. This allowed for strong attachments between the mother and the children. This attachment allows for healthy development of the children.

                 Today if a mother works it effects the family in very different ways. One is the economic effects. A lot of parents believe they will double their income with both of them working. But in reality, when you add it all up the family will generally have a lower income. This is because with a mother working you have the cost of her working wardrobe, a reliable car, more gas, child care and other needs. Also, generally the family will get fast-food or go out to eat more. As all of this adds up, they end up spending more then what she brings and then some making their actual income less then if she had stayed home.

But most of all these costs a mother watching her children grow up and learn. She misses out on giggles and snuggles. The cost of the closeness of their relationships with their children are priceless. And motherhood although not glamourous or praised is the most amazing job a woman could ever have. It is a very special gift that we have come to see as a burden.

Fathers, in todays world fatherhood is seen as unimportant, as taking a back seat to mothers and not involved. Again, this is not how it should be. Fathers have an essential role in the development and growth of their children. Father provide for, preside over and protect their families. But they are also amazing at setting boundaries and teaching us wrong from right. There is something about having a present and involved father that helps a child feel safe and allows them to grow up confident and trusting.

The world hasn’t always seen fathers like this so what happened? As the industrial revolution occurred fathers were able to receive work in a factory and not farm for the survival of their families. Which was great except now it took the fathers away from being home working in the fields. This changed the view and access to our fathers instead of him being a yell away it has now turned into half an hour or more away the father being gone from six in the morning till six at night. And even when they are home, they have emails and phone calls that pull them away.

I think if we can come to see the importance of both mother and fathers and respect these roles again, we will see the lives of our children be greatly blessed.