Moms are persons that can easily be taken for granted. Decades ago, my own mother embroidered and framed the following words for all the family and visitors to see: “A man works from sun to sun; a woman’s work is never done.” That aphorism delivers a message of deep meaning. Somewhat weathered by the sun, those words now hang on a prominent wall in the laundry room of my daughter’s home in Potomac, Maryland.
Good spot to hang such an adage. It’s a reminder that laundry, although one of the most humble jobs in the lives of most mothers, never really goes away. Even more important, it underscores that mothering goes well beyond the bounds of the laundry room. Moms are an incredible mixture of intelligence, competence, sunshine and, the key ingredient, love.
It’s also a reminder of how many other functions my daughter performs within her community: She comes and goes past that frame, the washer and the dryer, as she completes dozens of family and community commitments, exiting and entering from the back door leading to the garage and the ever-present Honda van.
Oh! How about my own wife and mom, who has done thousands of pounds of laundry during her lifetime for an often Cretan husband who should know better. Thanks, Pris, for all of the washing, drying and ironing. Happy Mother’s Day.
