We're putting the spotlight on moms today, asking readers to share about why it's so important to honor moms or maternal figures in our lives. Forum is a series from USA TODAY's Opinion team, dedicated to showcasing views from across the political spectrum on issues that Americans are starkly divided on. If you'd like to weigh in on a different topic, you can find more questions at usatoday.com/forum. And if your submission is selected for print, we might invite you to add your voice to a future special bonus episode like this one. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to [email protected] Transcript available hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapter 1: What do readers want to share about their moms?
Hello, and welcome to the excerpt. Yesterday was Mother's Day, so today on Forum, we're sharing what our readers wanted to share about their moms. I'm Michael McCarter. I lead the opinion sections of Gannett, the parent company of USA Today. This is a special bonus episode of the excerpt, highlighting a series from USA Today's opinion team called Forum. Here's what you told us.
Chapter 2: What are meaningful Mother's Day traditions?
My favorite Mother's Day tradition is probably the ones that I've started with my children and my mom now. Instead of us getting like a hanging plant or just buying something, my daughter really likes to make certain things. So just the other day, we painted her a canvas of mountains. So I try to incorporate things that are handmade because I know my mom is really sentimental and I am too.
That's Arielle Mitch, a 35-year-old who lives in Lowell, Indiana. Even when it's hard work, she's grateful for the relationship she has with her mom.
Chapter 3: Why is it important to honor mothers?
I would just like to tell my mom that I appreciate her, that I acknowledge all the things that as mothers we do that go... you know, unnoticed. But being a mom now, I see it. I totally see it. And I thank her for everything she did for me. I think it's important to honor moms because we do so much. And most of the time we're putting ourselves last.
Chapter 4: How can mothers be role models?
And I don't think we realized what kind of toll that takes on us until later. I mean, mothers are everything. It's how we become who we are, you know? So I just, I know how much of an effect everything I say and do is affecting my kids. And I want to be a good role model for them just the way my mom was. I'm just so grateful and thankful for my mom and the relationship that we have.
Chapter 5: What challenges do mothers face?
You know, we worked hard to get it. It's not something that came easy all the time. But no mom is perfect. We are all just trying to do the best that we can. This Mother's Day, I just want everyone to know how much... We're appreciated even if our kids and our husbands and our family can't see it, but I know how much they appreciate everything we do.
Andrea Markell lives in Danbury, Connecticut, and she's 33 years old. She shared that she's pulling for her mom to head down a different path than the one that she's on.
Chapter 6: What message does Andrea have for her mother?
I believe being a good mother is probably the most challenging task in the world. Absolutely, we should honor our mothers for taking on such a tremendous and incredibly important task. I would like to tell my mother that there is always time to change. your course for the next chapter of your life. My mother has struggled throughout her life with alcoholism.
Chapter 7: Can change be possible at any age?
I struggled with pretty much a wide range of substance abuse, alcohol, and drug use myself. There's always time. There's always time. It doesn't matter what your age. where you are, you can always change the course of direction in your life. It is not easy, but it is absolutely feasible. Very, very possible. I am a living example of that. I started using drugs probably when I was 14.
Chapter 8: How can addiction recovery inspire others?
I haven't used drugs in at least eight years. And I just like to let my mother, all addicts, all women know it is possible. It may feel very, very impossible, but it can be done. And the world is just waiting to see you shine.
41-year-old Ashley Leonard is from Memphis, Tennessee. Her message to her mom is simple. She loves and appreciates her.
It's a big deal for women to know. As a mom, you're doing a great job. We're here for you for whatever you need. And that's my mom. That's her top thing. She's very active. She has always been there for me every step of the way, all of my 41 years, helping me with my kids, my mother's gift one year. She gave me, at the time, 15 gifts, one for each year I was a mother.
And my daughter at the time was 15 years old. So I had a gift for every year. So I just really want to let her know that I love her. I appreciate her. I haven't forgotten about her. I think about her all the time. I worry about her all the time. For as a mom, she's great. She's awesome. I don't even know. I don't have all the words for it. She's just the greatest mom ever.
It's very important for moms to know they're being seen. Their work is not going unnoticed. Like I said before, as a mother, it is very hard, challenging with kids of all ages, every stages. So just mainly making sure moms are seen, making sure moms are known, they're appreciated. Let them know any token would help.
Metta Marie Griffin is 55 and lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She says that as she's grown older, she's come to see her mom in a different light.
I'd like to thank her for being a good model. It was hard when we moved back to Spartanburg and she worked full time and went to school. I didn't think she was any fun, but I learned the importance of getting an education. She used to say, it's a man's world and I have to work harder.
It was such a transition because we had lived in a nice neighborhood, and then when my mom divorced, we moved back into the house she grew up in, and my grandmother owned it at the time. And it took a lot of work, and she still lives there now, and it's just, it's a major difference if you see the pictures. I know sometimes my mom says I wasn't a good mother, and...
Sometimes our moms, maybe they feel guilty they weren't there enough, but it's important to appreciate what they've done and they are important role models in our lives.
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