It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love.
The Peace Corps may have coined the slogan, but mothers bring it to life every day. Motherhood may not be the kind of “job” that nets a paycheck or vacation days, and moms rarely have the luxury of calling in sick but getting “paid” in kisses and homemade cards is its own reward.
For moms by birth or adoption, for stepmoms and foster moms and those who’ve taken on that mothering role for a child in need–Mother’s Day is a celebration of their devotion and unconditional love.
Jackie Schultz of Shorewood says she never realized how hard motherhood was until she became one. Last August, she joined the motherhood club when she became a mom to her daughter, Lucia. This Mother’s Day, she will host a three-generation Mother’s Day celebration with her grandmother and mother.
“This is so special because I am an only child,” said Schultz. “My mom and grandma are so excited not only for themselves, but for me as well.”
While she revels in the joys of motherhood, Schultz admits that fear does run through her body when she looks at her tiny daughter. “I am so scared if she sneezes or is colicky,” said Schultz. “When they are a baby, it is a bit easy. Wait until they go out in the real world, and you worry about them going to school, driving and God forbid, dating. There are a lot of scary things out there and you want to protect their children for as long as you can.”
Veteran moms like Amy Mendoza of Bolingbrook believe motherhood is all about taking one day at a time. “I have three children now and no matter what anyone says, it does not get easier,” said Mendoza, who used to live in Joliet. “There are constant worries with each child.”
Mendoza said inflation and economic uncertainties have been major factors for single mothers like her struggling to put food on the table and provide shelter. “I am working full time and I have a part-time job on weekends. So whatever time and energy I have left during the evenings, I spend time with my kids by making sure they know they are loved and that they do their homework.”
Since money is tight, Mendoza said she will make her children’s favorite dish, lasagna, on Sunday to celebrate Mother’s Day. She said hearing them tell her she is loved is all she needs.
“I do not want my kids to feel they have to buy me something like flowers or dinner,” she said. “Just being with them is enough.”
Retail stores count on Mother’s Day profits, and the National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $35.7 billion on Mother’s Day– a big increase from the previous record of $31.7 billion in 2022. Flowers and greeting cards are the most popular gifts, with retailers sending flurries of email reminders to potential gift buyers.
Of course, Mother’s Day can be difficult for those who are grieving lost mothers, especially after the global pandemic. Some well-known online retailers, including Etsy and Pandora, are taking steps to acknowledge the shift. National Public Radio reports a small but growing trend of companies allowing peopleto “opt out” of emails related to the upcoming holiday.
Mother’s Day is celebrated in various forms around the world; here in the United States, it’s been a holiday since 1908, and is observed to remember the importance and significance of mothers and motherly figures in our lives.
