Defining a Mother
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
May 7, 2011 8:31am CST
On Sunday we celebrate Mother's day and I have been wondering just who qualifies for the label of Mother under social customs as they are accepted today? To be a Mother must you have given birth? Must you raise children? Or must you just fulfill the role of Mother no matter if your gve birth, raised children or even were female? What are your thoughts?
3 people like this
15 responses
@penrockerchic (1903)
• Philippines
7 May 11
Well, hi there! Basically you are defined a mother because you have a child. That's more on the literal sense. But I guess, nowadays, the meaning of a mother had gone deeper. Here at our place, we sometimes call someone "mom" names even to an older friend because you treat her like a mom. You look up to her. I have joined this religious group in our community and we call our leader mama and papa. We consider them as our parents and we greet them during father's day and mother's day. Being a good mom is a difficult task to do and I do applaud all mothers out there who had been nurturing and caring to their own children.
@hari1989 (3)
• India
8 May 11
basically in my sense mom is not a human being giving birth to child and even animals look after their small creatures with lot of love .and in society with this fast growing cultures even some times happen to kill these relations of mother and child and when is called mother when she cares her baby and gives lot of love and she alsa sacrifices her life and look after their kids with patience even they commit mistakes and tolerates everything and looks forward to bright future.and mother is one looks after abnormal babies and serve them with lots of love .hatsoff to all mothers without mother we cant able to grow into a good and respectable humans.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 May 11
In my opinion, to be considered to be a mother, a person must have fulfilled some of the roles of a traditional mother. What I mean is that it is not necessary to have given birth to your own children, nor is it necessary to have raised children that were adopted or your step-children. Instead, what I think is needed to be considered a mother is that you have played a very important role in the life of at least one child. Meaning, that even though my babysitter has never had children of her own, I consider her to be a mother because of the important role that she has played in my children's lives.
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@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
9 May 11
Hi savypat, These are all very good questions and while one who gives birth, I feel must be considered a mother, there are others who deserve the title. The role of a mother is an important one and many adoptive mothers whether they be male or female, have earned that title. Blessings.
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@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
8 May 11
In my opinion there is no need to have given birth to be a good mother. In fact are many biological mums who should have never been given the gift of a child! Love and the desire to nurture are the prerequisites for motherhood because as my daughter nicely put it for me this morning, “Mums are angels in disguise”… And no they do not even have to be females...
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@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
8 May 11
Well...It is hard to say. I think that a mother is a the caregiver and protector of a child. I used to celebrate mother's day for my grandmother...she was in every right a mother to me. I suppose if I were to define mother..it would be the one that was there when no one else would be.
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@ckciasigurl (2081)
• Italy
8 May 11
hi savypat!
i define a mother as a role that there is no rest in taking good care of your daughter, no day off, a full of understanding to there children i already proven this because my mommy do this for me everyday and it is one as my observation as well.
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@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
8 May 11
In my mind mothering is nurturing. You may or may not have children, if you care for and nurture a good life for others you are being a mother, or a parent. I have young friends who call me mother or grand mother or granny that I have never met except on here, but I care for them, and I beleive they care for me.
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@sunny5u (2069)
• India
7 May 11
Hi savypat, in my view a mother just doesn't mean to give birth , but means the one who shows the real effection, without expecting anything in turn, and have infinite love in them....right now i'm not even getting words but my mom is the best thing in the world, may be every one feels so.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
7 May 11
Being a Mother does not necessarily mean giving birth. There are many females who have adopted and not given birth. Mothers are people who nuture, love and raise their children giving up alot of themselves unselfishly. Where their kids come first and foremost. Mothers love their children unconditionally with all of their heart and soul.
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@sender621 (14893)
• United States
7 May 11
There are so many things that define the qualities of being a mother. All children everwhere may see their mothers in a different light. more than one day a year needs to be set aside to show mothers everywhere the appreciation they are entitled to.1 person likes this
@umabharti (3972)
• India
7 May 11
hi, Mother is the person who is having those qualities.It is not that every female who is married and hav child fulfills the mother hood role.Motherly qualities are same for every living being on the world , god created such way.Thanks to god for creating wonderful mothers ., every child should be proud to have such moms .Happy Mothers Day to all mylotters.
1 person likes this
@figurativeme (1089)
• Philippines
7 May 11
Those are good questions, savvypat. The concept of "mother" has undergone changes throughout the years and would embrace a variety of women (or otherwise) who had nurtured and cared for children.
I have an adopted daughter who calls me "mom." I had a neighbor once whose child was close to another neighbor and cared for/looked after when the biological mother is away who calls that neighbor mom.
So perhaps it is the maternal acts of a person that makes one a mother.
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@srinivas2036 (188)
• India
7 May 11
hi... Just by giving the birth one may be called as a mother. But even she too knows some where in her heart that she wont be a mother unless she shares the love and brought up the child so that he can be a good and useful being for the society. And as per my concern MOTHER IS LOVE AND BEING MOTHER IS A RESPONSIBILITY WITH LOVE. HATSOFF all mothers. HAppy mothers day to all the mothers in world...
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@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
7 May 11
The true definition of Mother is one that runs very deep. A true Mother is one that cares for her children unconditionally and love unconditionally. A true Mother is a Mother that puts her children's needs before her own, and would give her life for them. A true Mother is a Mother that gives her children everything in her power and makes sure they are safe. How do you repay or celebrate the greatest woman in the world? We as children can never do what out Mother's do. A simple hug and a kiss means more to them than any gift money could buy.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
7 May 11
Mothers are not just biological. There are some biological mothers that have no right to the title while adoptive mothers--and even women in a child's neighborhood--truly nurture, inspire and shelter a child physically, emotionally and mentally.
I was fortunate enough to have a mother that was exceptionally loving and understanding while being strong enough to let me make my own mistakes. I miss her very much and this is the first Mother's Day in my life that I will not have her here on earth. I wish everyone could have a mother like mine was!
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