Wilhelm: Remembering Moms this Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there.

They say women have come a long way in the past century or so.

You know, they point to the fact they can vote, gain entry into just about any professional field and earn leadership positions wherever they feel motivated to do so.

Well, I choose to disagree somewhat. I don’t think it’s the women who have come a long way; I think it’s the rest of us − you know who that is − who have realized treating women like second class citizens was not only unfair, it was downright stupid.

Think back to some of the foolish things we did. When my mom started teaching about 80 years ago, she had to pretend she wasn’t married − even though she was − or she couldn’t get a teaching job. What was the thinking? Married women should stay at home and take care of their families? Somehow, we’ve learned they can manage.

Even obituaries treated women as second class people

Then, I recall even a couple of decades more recently than that, when a woman passed away her obituary in the paper proclaimed Mrs. John Doe had died − not Mary or Ann or Susan Doe. I don’t know what the thinking was, because Mary or Ann or Susan, even though she still faced challenges professionally, had been making her own impact throughout the community just about her whole life.

As a newcomer to town, I recall seeing such an obituary and having to read on to see if it was a woman I knew from any of a number of community causes or events, professional connections or elsewhere.

While I have this very strong feeling about the strange unfairness that existed for so long and still lingers to some extent, I also don’t like that fact some say women can do “more” now.

I look at it as they have increased opportunities; because I believe it’s tough to do “more” than be a mother.Mom does the little and big things needed and that keep kids happy.

From the very first day, moms deliver

From the very first day children are born to way beyond the day they go off hundreds of miles to a job they have dreamed about, she delivers the messages that continue to build that link and their personal self.

From birthday observances to the right touch of love at a tough time, Mom delivers. From remembering their favorite foods to sharing her favorite memories, Mom delivers. From teaching the youngsters to respect others to helping them to believe in themselves, Mom delivers. From calming an uncomfortable baby to remembering a special day across the miles, Mom delivers.

And much “more.”

Happy Mother’s Day.

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Society was slow to give women credit they deserved