The World 050422

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How Non-Traditional Families
Can Celebrate Mother’s Day
No two families are the same. What may be “normal”
for one family could be quite unique to another.
Because families are so different, days
such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s
Day, and even days devoted to
siblings or cousins present opportunities for
families to celebrate diversity while honoring
their family members.
BRANCH OUT TO MANY CAREGIV-
ERS
Certainly a person becomes a mother if
she has given birth to a child. But motherhood
is a much broader concept. Many
women are mothers to children with whom
they have little to no biological connection.
Some may be relatives that filled the void
left by a mother who passed away or was
unable to care for children. Anyone who has
stepped into the role of caretaker can and
should be celebrated on Mother’s Day.
RECOGNIZING STEPMOTHERS
The notion of the “evil stepmother” in
fairy tales is inaccurate. Many children have
very close relationships with their stepmothers
— even retaining relationships should
the stepmother divorce out of the family.
Modern families even include strong connections
between stepmothers and biological
mothers, with each doing her part to make
sure children are getting the love and support
they need.
MOTHER’S DAY | MAY 8, 2022
SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS
Families continue to evolve and samesex
couples are raising children. Among
married same-sex couples, 18.9 percent of
the households have children under age 18.
These non-traditional families can be creative
as they navigate holidays like Mother’s
Day or Father’s Day. One way to do so is to
celebrate one parent on Mother’s Day and
the other on Father’s Day. However, families
also can remove gender labels and celebrate
both days as Parents Day, casting love and
affection on caregivers however they see fit.
ABSENT BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Some mothers are not present in children’s
lives for various reasons. These can include
death, incarceration, illness, military deployment,
or enrollment in a rehabilitation program.
Mother’s Day can be a time of mixed
emotions for individuals whose moms are
not present, and families can work together
to find ways to celebrate. This may be visiting
the cemetery to pay respects or sending
a letter to express one’s feelings. Individuals
also can recognize those people who act as
surrogate mothers, including special friends
or coworkers who always listen and offer
advice.
Mother’s Day can be recognized with flexibility
and creativity within non-traditional
families.
Priceless Ways to Show Mom You Care
Every day as a pediatrician, I get to hear
from a lot of moms (including my own)
which brings me to Mother’s Day—a time to
celebrate mom for the special person she is.
This week therefore, I thought I would share
with children and dads some of the gifts mom
really would like to get for her special day
that cost next to nothing but are truly priceless.
24 hours of peace
Why not consider doing what mom asks
the first time she asks you to do it? (That goes
for Dads doing what moms ask of them too.)
While still not surgically possible, mothers
would certainly enjoy having eyes in the back
of their head, and while that operation doesn’t
exist, every mom I know already has that talent.
Consider giving mom a coupon good for a
“day off” for time to herself on the big day,
and if that’s more easily said than done, at
least let her sleep in, serve her breakfast in
bed, and let her take over the remote control
and pick the programs she really wants to
watch.
Institute a whine-free zone throughout your
home that should be in place for the entire 24
hours of Mother’s Day and consider extending
it beyond Mother’s Day.
Homemade gifts are best
Mothers also tell me they do like gifts, but
the homemade ones mean the most. Consider
making mom a certificate that names her
world’s greatest mom as a means of showing
how much she is appreciated. Framing this so
she can hang it up is even better and will last
longer than any store-bought gift.
Help with any chores or clean-ups that usually
fall to mom (such as making beds (not
just yours but mom’s as well) or doing dishes
or even cleaning your room and let her marvel
at the fact that these are not skills that
only mothers have learned but ones that can
be done not just by the children but by dad as
well.
Dinner? Make reservations
Finally take mom out for dinner and invite
the grandparents, even the in-laws so that
everyone, especially mom’s partner along
with the children, can tell mom they love her,
hug her, and can tell her what a special person
she is.
In this way, mothers will say “Wow”
(which is mom upside down) when it comes
to our showing her the kindness, concern,
caring and love she deserves so that we can
celebrate Mother’s Day not just on May 8 but
every day of the year.
Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at
The University of Vermont Children’s
Hospital and Chair of the Department of
Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s
Larner College of Medicine. You can also
catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO
98.9FM and NBC5.
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SAMBEL’S Mother’s Day Eve
Prime Rib or
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Dinners To Go!!!
Happy
Mother’s
Day
May 8
Includes Baked Potato,
Cole Slaw & Dinner Roll
PRIME RIB
English Cut 10 ounce $23
Queen Cut 14 ounce $28
King Cut 16 ounce $33
STUFFED CHICKEN
BREAST $20
ORDER BY
THURSDAY, MAY 5
PICK UP SAT., MAY 7
NORTHFIELD FALLS 3-6PM
WEST DANVILLE
4PM SHARP
(ACROSS FROM HASTING’S GENERAL
STORE & STATE PARKING LOT)
To Order & Pay By Card
802-249-7758
Routes 15 & 100, Morrisville, VT • thecharlmontvt.com
RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 802-888-4242
Mother’s Day
May 8, 2022
Breakfast Buffet
Served 8 to 11 a.m.
Egg, Omelette and Waffle Stations • Bacon • Vermont Maple Sausage
French Toast and Pancakes with Vermont Maple Syrup • Home Fries
Sausage Gravy and Biscuits • Fresh Fruit • Pastries • Assorted Juices
Adults...$13.95 Kids Under 8...$7.95
Dinner Buffet
Served Noon to 5 p.m. • Includes Salad Bar and Dessert Table
Carving Stations with Prime Rib, Roast Pork and Roast Turkey
Baked Penne • Baked Haddock • Fried Shrimp
Rice Pilaf • Roasted Red Potatoes • Vegetable Medley
Cornbread Stuffing • Homemade Rolls
Adults...$25.95 Kids Under 8...$11.95
FREE
Carnations
for Moms!
Monday Closed • Tuesday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 4-7 p.m.
Wednesday/Thursday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 4-7 p.m.
Friday/Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 4-8 p.m. • Sunday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (for Mother’s Day)
Last Reservation and Takeout Order is a half hour prior to closing time!
May 4, 2022 The WORLD page 19