Robin SmithIn a few days, we’ll honor our mothers. Mother’s Day, according to the Hallmark Corp., follows Christmas as “the second most popular holiday for gift-giving.” More than 120 million cards are exchanged on Mother’s Day, making the second Sunday of May “the third-largest card-sending holiday in the U.S.”
In 2015, mothers share the same goals for their children: the best possible health, safety, opportunity and a measure of success. For many moms, this is a solo effort; fathers are absent in far too many homes.
Let’s applaud a few mothers who’ve stepped up, made tough decisions and took bold action in recent days. These women, dealt a less-than-perfect hand, have the grit and decency to stand.
A Houston mom recognized her son in surveillance tapes shown on the local news as the thief of an iPad. Her horror was intensified to see that the victim was a 2-year-old toddler awaiting his mom at a laundromat. The child was pushed down by her son, who snatched the hand-held computer.
KPRC reporter Mark Boyle noted, “The little boy was robbed and shoved to the ground” after a security video captured the 16-year old pacing back and forth to assess the danger of being seen. After the crime had first been reported at 5 p.m. local time, “by 9 p.m., the mother of this 16-year-old suspect had recognized her son on TV and called to turn him in.”
Here is a recent situation in which a mother stepped in to stop her son’s behavior before it escalated:
Among the Baltimore protesters last week, video of rioters destroying property dominated the news cycle. Among the displays of destruction and violence stood a warrior of her day.
The Independent Journal Review, a conservative digital publication, featured a video of younger protesters voicing profane anger toward the Maryland governor, the Baltimore mayor, the police and others as they ranted freely to the videographer.
The foreground featured mouthy young protesters in front of a CVS that was vandalized. A woman dressed in sky blue is seen walking up to the area in the background. She initially passes this group of adolescent verbal volcanoes but circles back and interrupts their spew.
“We’ve got class about ourselves,” she declares. “We don’t need to be out here acting indignant or cursing.” She points to her head and demands, “You show them that you’ve got some intelligence … we ain’t gonna act up, we’re going to do this thing in decency and order!”
Madam, you should be the mayor of Baltimore.
And finally, consider the woman who expressed her love by publicly scolding her masked son caught in the Baltimore protests. While her methods have drawn some criticism, Toya Graham was clear in her intent. She loves her son. “Is he the perfect boy? she said in one interview. “No, he’s not. But he’s mine.”
ABC News also featured Graham and her son, Michael Singleton, who had a life lesson seared into his being.
“I understand how much my mama really cares about me. I just got to try to do better,” he said.
Got that? A son acknowledged his mother for physically fighting to save him from himself. Now, that’s a loving mother.
Moms, hang tough in your love; be bold in living decency and goodness. Happy Mother’s Day.
Robin Smith is a former chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party and owner of Rivers Edge Alliance.