Congratulations Mothers

No admonition this month. This editorial only contains a big CONGRATULATION! You have done it… you mothers who were raised by Mrs. Cleaver. Not only have you given this generation men who do not wait at the dinner table to be server, but also men who possess an attitude of, “Hey, this child is mine and I get to help in this care and development.” This transitional generational success is because of your accomplishments in teaching your children.

I was sitting in a living room a month ago where several young couples were visiting the home of a family who had just had a baby. The stories of childbirth were no longer a “female only” topic. The husbands were enjoying and adding to the stories of how their own children had arrived into the world. I felt like a visitor from another era as my eyes went from face to face while the men were telling their “tales of woe” adding to the enjoyment of the evening.

I heard tales of aching backs as they bent over their wives while giving her encouragement. They spoke of frozen fingers from handling all the ice chips that were requested. They laughed about their own discomforts that were ignored because they knew their wife needed them. They shared the excitement in watching the birth of their child but more importantly they expressed love and appreciation for their respective wives as they went through childbirth.

During the course of the evening as babies were crying and older children needed assistance the fathers were active participants in their care. Both parents were changing diaper, comforting, calming a cry and playing when needed. There seemed to be a true partnership in parenting within this group. I was amazed! My skepticism began with, “They are medical students. They have an educational interest in these events,” but when Sunday approached my skepticism changed to belief. As I attended church the chapel was filled with the normal sounds that many small children make who are required to sit still. I watch with enjoyment as responsibility of parenthood transcended professions and gender. Babies were being quieted, comforted and taken out by fathers of this “New and Improved” generation.

What we mothers have done to make this wonderful transformation I can’t guess. President John Taylor commented that, “A parent’s influence extends to future generation.” Your examples have proven his point exactly. We have a generation of young parents who were taught your concepts of values, roles and the importance of family. We can see how these teaching by example or words, on family and parenthood are now paying off. What a wonderful experience it will be for grandparents to see their own “works” in progress as they watch the next generation evolve. Congratulations to you all on a job well done!