Happy Mother's Day

Jason — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:44:47 -0500

I agree that mother's know best. It seems like every situation or illness that comes up my mom or any mom for that matter has the answer. I just want to thank all mothers on this day for everything you do.

mother tried her best

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:21:57 -0500

It sounds like your mother had the cards stacked against her, but still tried to be the best mother she could to be. I think most mothers are doing the same thing, just working with the cards we are dealt (some better than others), and trying to be the best mothers we can be. None of us are perfect...I know that even though I try my best, I still make many mistakes.

The love is in the trying, not the perfection.

Thanks for commenting. I hope you have a happy Mothers Day.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan at catherine-morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

mother's day

madeintaiwan — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:27:00 -0500

Mother's Day is just a weird day for me. I can't really say "mother knows best"... my mom has a mental illness which was undiagnosed when we were kids so she gave us some pretty harmful advice. But what I can say is this: "mother tried her best". And you know what? Now that I'm a mom, that means a lot to me. She tried her best.

http://watermelonmama.wordpress.com/

Mother Knows Best - Health and Wellness

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:52:33 -0500

In honor of Mother's Day, this is my contribution to BlogHer's Mother Knows Best series.

It seems most of us start off our lives blindly believing that our mothers know best. Then sometime during adolescence we are suddenly convinced that our mother knows nothing, and of course, we know it all. But, as we get older, we slowly come back to realizing that our mothers (in many cases) did know best. Why is that? Is it some kind of genetic programing? What ever the case, we almost all experience this phenomena in one way or another.

Mother's Day is that one time of year we are inclined to take a closer look at how our mothers have influenced us for the better. Since I am a contributing editor for health and wellness, I'm taking a look at how my mother influenced my views on wellness.

I think one of the most important aspects of wellness, is knowing when we need to slow down, and treat ourselves with kindness. And I learned how to do that from my mother. From a very early age, my mother taught me that wellness was more than just a physical thing. She understood the importance of taking care of the mind and spirit, as well as the body.

She taught her lessons more from example than anything else, and because of that, there was never any need to disagree. So what were some of these lessons? They were little things; like tea time, bubble bath time, reading time, sitting in the sun time. Basically, they were wellness rituals, for quieting the mind and body.

The older I get, the more valuable these lessons become. Often times we have little control over our physical conditions, so having the capacity to find peace within can be a lifesaver. And as a mother, I realize the importance of caring for myself, in order to best care for my children. I like to think that I am teaching these same lessons (by example) to my own children.

When it comes to other issues of health...

My mother told me to eat plenty of vegetables, drink plenty of water, and not to eat too much sugar because it would give me a headache (and it does). She also told me not to eat a lot of watermelon when pregnant, especially if you enjoy salt on it (I don't). Her best sore throat treatment...two baby aspirin dissolved in a teaspoon of warm water. Best cold treatment...Vicks Vapor Rub, and chicken noodle soup. Best sore neck treatment...BenGay and a towel wrapped around your neck. Best treatment for constipation...prunes (but I hate prunes).

My mother recently wrote on her blog (Frances Ellen Speaks) about how her mother often knew best...

I remember her facing off with our family doctor. Often, when I was sick with some childhood illness, the doctor would recommend a penicillin shot. At the time, penicillin was considered a miracle drug, but my mother insisted a person might build up an immunity to it. The doctor strongly disagreed, but grudgingly honored her wishes. One day, on the way home after one of these visits, she sympathized with me saying that she knew I felt very, very sick, but on the off chance I might need penicillin to save my life someday, she preferred to nurse me back to health without it. I was young, could hardly understand what she was telling me, but I felt her anxiety. Now I realize how hard it must have been to stick to her guns when all she had in her arsenal to defend herself was sheer conjecture. All I know is, while my friends almost always got a needle at the doctor’s office, I received very few. My mother took a stand at a time when doctors and scientists denied the possibility of resistance. Now we know that–

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply causing more harm.

What advice did you get from your mother on health and wellness issues? Did she know best? Do prunes taste better if you hold your nose?

Happy Mother's Day.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan at catherine-morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election Blog

BlogHer - Mother Knows Best - Health and Wellness - Comments

Happy Mother's Day

mother tried her best

mother's day

Mother Knows Best - Health and Wellness