WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

May 11, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 19

A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE

Mark Twain once said, “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” A mother’s influence often extends beyond her child. Day in and day out, the influence of mothers may be obvious, subtle, or both. Consider the mother whose child kicks or screams or both without warning in church or at the store. Or the child who sticks his tongue out at the elderly woman with a cane. Most mothers are mortified by such behavior. Most mothers have passing thoughts such as, “This cannot be my child.” But most mothers remain calm, despite wanting to pull their hair out or wondering why they ever considered being seen in public. How most mothers react to their child’s behavior impacts those around them. By remaining calm, as most mothers do, they send a message that there is a better way amid chaos. Amid uncertainty. Amid disasters.

From the child insistent on donning the Dracula costume to the family reunion or the princess costume to the zoo, to the child intent on wearing plaid pants with a stained polka dot shirt to the grocery store, a mother’s actions and reactions are tested in mundane and remarkable ways. Aside from clothing challenges, there are overworn stuffed animals and blankets, and literal food fights. Or toys that are ignored and thus hauled away, only to haunt mothers when their child shrieks, “You ruined my life.” Despite being disregarded for months, children have the uncanny ability to suddenly realize that Mr. Potato Head or Bluey has disappeared, despite having been left behind months earlier.

As children forge their paths and make their own decisions, what mothers say or do can be profoundly impactful. For the many missteps made by mothers of toddlers and teenagers and ages in between, a mother’s interaction with young adults presents new challenges. Young adults often debate or disregard their mothers, sometimes for hours or weeks, making active listening skills and unconditional love essential yet exhausting. Perhaps this is the true meaning behind the phrase, “A mother’s work is never done.”

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Using the letters in the phrase, “A Mother’s Influence,” write a poem to your mother or a mother figure or use the letters to describe your mother or a mother figure. For those who have lost their mothers, consider how your mother’s influence impacted you at different stages of your life.  

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.