Musings by Donna #59 Universal Mom

Universal Mom

Mothers are everywhere-–in every corner of our world. They could be Asian, European, Latin, Arabic, African, Native American, or Indian.

Skin pigmentation varies from light cream-colored to various shades of browns. Some skins are red- or yellow-tinged. Pigment is determined by the amount of melanin present in the skin.

Mothers wear saris, sarongs, kimonos, and chadors. The gomesi, a square-necked, puffy-sleeved dress sashed below the waist, is worn by Ugandan women. The traditional dress of indigenous women in Mexico and in Central America is the huipil. These dresses are usually ornate, often with colorful threads or ribbons woven through them.

Mothers speak many languages, such as Mandarin, Punjabi, Portuguese, Javanese, French, Urdu and Wu, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, and Polish. They answer to many names. If you live in Germany, you may call your mother “Mutter.” If you grew up in Slovakia, as my grandmother did, you might call your mother “Matka.” Children of Latin descent often call their mothers “Madre” or “Mami.” Here in the Unites States, the melting pot of the world, one may hear many forms. “Mom,” “Mommy,” “Mama,” or “Mother” are the most common. I called my mother “Mom” or “Mommy” when I was a little girl. As I grew older, my name for her evolved into the more mature form of “Mother.” You can find many more forms here at Mother in Different Languages.

No matter where mothers grow up, no matter what language they speak, and no matter what the color of their skin is, a mother is a very important person to her child as he or she grows up under her guidance and love. A mother’s love is incontestable. It’s inherent.

Of course, mothers may expect rocky times with their offspring, as the child travels roads of the unsteady pubescent era. Often relationships shatter with pieces heartbreakingly strewn throughout the universe. The once strong bond may weaken and become fragile. Don’t worry! Hang on tight. Those uncertain teen years usually pass. It takes time and trial and error for teenagers to sort out their beings, to discover themselves, and to settle into their new persona before they majestically emerge, much like a butterfly, into a confident adult ready to successfully steer the rest of their lives. Hopefully the fragmented shards of pubescence can be gathered and pieced together to weave a stronger more stable bond between mother and child-–a bond that will last her and her child’s lifetimes … and beyond.