Happy mothers day to all the mothers out there, today is a day for you when in reality every day should be mother and fathers day. When I hear republicans say "people on welfare need to learn the dignity of work" it upsets me because these are the same hypocrites that said Ann Romney while never having any other job had the hardest one being a mother. I have news for you - mother is a full time job and hard work no matter your race, income or sexuality and while I'm happy Mrs. Romney had the ability to stay at home and raise her kids millions of women don't have that honor.
I was lucky enough to have a mother who was home most of the time and could help with school work and encourage me to go out and play. That was until the 80's when Reagan made it impossible for a single parent to work and raise a family anymore and my mother had to get a full time job just so we could keep the life we currently had. She worked 3rd shift and often 12 hours a night and was usually to tired and to help out my brothers and myself chipped in around the house. This didn't allow us to join sports or after school programs and until I got used to the situation my schoolwork took a hit. That year of transition knocked me out of the top 10 students in my class and while I was able to make up some ground my junior and senior year I never made it back to the top.
I do see mothers who I believe have their children just for the benefits they receive and often neglect them but that is rare. I have noticed a shift in values, when I was younger my parents always held me to a high standard and if I failed to meet those standards they held me accountable or put the blame on themselves. Today all to often I see everyone else get blamed - I've noticed now when students do bad it's often blamed on the teacher or the school system and while they might not be great (and I had some bad teachers) when do the parents get held accountable?
Unless you invented a life saving vaccine or an invention that changed the world being a parent and raising good children will be the mark you leave on the world long after you are gone. Instead of cutting social programs like food stamps and punishing people who get married (which the system currently does) maybe we should reward them and expand these programs. No mother should have to choose between feeding their child or taking care of themselves and all to often that happens in America. Why would a mother marry the father of her child if it means the government will take food away from her child or cut his/her healthcare as punishment.
I think if there was more a focus on family which included expanding the social safety net we would see America rise in education, our healthcare system improve greatly and actually be as good as some claim it is and would drastically cut down on abortions. The problem is it's easier to hurt women and families than it is to help them, instead of making abortion almost illegal and making the women villains maybe we should look at the root cause and offer to help the mother to be instead of forcing her to have a child she might want to keep but knows she can't afford to provide the love and time needed.
I think the decline of families is part of the problems with America but rather than make those problems worse think we should try to make life easier for mothers and fathers. We need to stop making a mother receiving 100.00 a month in food assistance the villain and blaming her for the problems of America and maybe if we didn't give Exxon millions of dollars to drill a hole in the ground we could give these mothers a few dollars more and allow them to be home with their child and help raise the child right.
You can not claim to be "pro family" while cutting children's health care or taking food out of their mouths while forcing the parent to get a 3rd job to make up the difference and they sure as hell shouldn't be punished for getting married and trying to provide the child with a mother and father.
Again happy mothers day to all the mothers out there (and single fathers who have to take on both roles) and happy mothers day to my mother Ruth Streich who instilled the values and morals I have today. On that note my mother (and father who was an army veteran now disabled) are in need of help to save our home while she battles cancer for the 2nd time. For information on that PLEASE check out Ruth Streich cancer fund and if you can help without over extending yourself please consider. Also if you could share on social media and click the little like heart on the picture (all of which are free)..