There are many kinds of mothers…
But, there’s another definition of ‘who is really a mother’ that has both breadth and depth…. one that includes this first kind of mother, but also does not define ‘mother’ by marital status, gender, or that both mother and child are still alive, or are yet separated by circumstances beyond their control and longing for each other.

I think one short definitation of a mother is one who warmly loves and teaches, shelters and nourishes, and hopefully too, is cranky enough to ‘mean business,’ and who makes mistakes often enough but offers do-overs a-plenty, is able to say ‘Sorry,’ and ‘Good job,’ and ‘What do you mean somebody ‘bumped’ the family car ‘slightly’ on Chicken-Race-Headlights-Off Road … when you were supposed to be asleep at Arturo’s house with both his parents home?’

There are many other kinds of mothers too... any soul who nurtures any child, blood or not blood– is a mother. Any soul who watches over something that planet would be the poorer for if it were lost, is a mother. Those who nurture and heal creatures, are mothers. Those who mother whatever they find wounded at the side of the road, they are mothers too. Those who baby along something useful or important or sweet with life, are mothers….

And too, I’ve a phrase for men who mother others, often through challenging circumstances, their own children; they are both motherfather to one or more children. The phrase is, hombre con pechos, man with breasts.
I know it sounds a bit odd, but the love and kindness that flows through a man who is motherfather to children– blood or not blood… is often unending and devoted. I think of fathers and also of scout masters and assistant scoutmasters; I think of solders deployed where there are always little ones who shyly creep out to see the giant warriors and find the warriors are carrying as much candy and kindness as they are carrying fire.

I think of mothers who are alone, who are working three jobs and trying to hold everyone together and are short by midweek and who have to swallow sense of pride and ask for help and try to hold their heads up instead of down. I think of the young mothers who are determined to make it all work, even though many try to discourage them. I think of the mothers forced to surrender their children, who have been told they are unworthy of the title ‘mother,’ and I want to gently tell them, with conviction, that they are ‘life mothers,’ mothers for life regardless of the tragic circumstances long ago.

And I think of mothers who have near ‘perfect’ children who acheive the highest of high and give nary a moment’s concern, and bless them for their luck of the draw, and may it continue to be so for them. And I think of mothers who struggle to save their children’s lives, in the ER, at bedside of a thousand I.V lines, of trying with every resource in them to bring their children back from the edge of doom… who are way out there, searching the streets for their children, seeking and petitioning and holding onto hope by near miraculous means.

I think of the mothers in shelters for the homeless, I think of the grim blood in them to hold their families together, using all wits and wiles to insist it be so, by hook or crook, remaining ever vigilant.

And I think of the mothers whose children have died, in accidents, in war, and I want only to pour miel, warm honey over their hearts and tell them they are mothers of their spirit children forever, and to watch for signs of their offspring every day, for they will see their children in Nature and in odd events in so many ways.

And for those whose mothers have passed from this world, see here: “When A Good Mother Sails from This World.”

There are so many other kinds of mothers too… May all have a blessed Mother’s Day, from my mother-heart to yours…and from all of us here at TMV.

In venerable times past, the definition of a mother is a married woman who has children…

and here is an article about a stunningly unusual mother and a group of frightened, visionary people, who turned themselves inside out and rose up against the authorities for a mother’s sake.

I think you will like reading it… in a world of turmoil, it is a true story about taking all means possible to free an innocent mother who was falsely accused.