Maitu (Kikuyu), Mwaitu Kikamba), Omongina (Kisii), Mwekuru (Meru), Mama (Luhya) mummy, mum…

All these names represent someone who made many sacrifices for you so that you can be who you are now. We therefore need to remember and honour them. Mother's day this year was celebrated on 9^th May. It complements Father's Day, the celebration honouring fathers which is celebrated on the 3^rd Sunday in June.

Role of mothers in our lives

.Mothers play a critical role in the family which is a powerful force for social cohesion and integration. As children we all need someone to provide love and warmth, to hold us and care for us. This responsibility usually falls on the mother who forms a strong attachment to the child. Such sustained warm, intimate and continuous relationship offers the child a secure base. Children who are brought up by someone other than their biological mother can also form a strong attachment to this person and grow up feeling loved and cherished just as if their caretaker was their real mother.

There are marked differences in the behaviour and emotional states of children who have had secure attachment relationships and those who have not.Securely attached children tend to have higher self esteem, are more positive, less aggressive, and generally excel with regards to their social and emotional health, more able to develop and  maintain healthy and happy relationships as adults.Children who have not had secure attachment relationships tend to suffer from depression, show anti-social behaviour and are generally more emotionally and behaviourally troubled. Without the relevant support, such as counselling, encouragement and subsequent relationships which are healthy and loving, this most often will result in problems with adult relationships.

Mothers and those who brought us up therefore form the basic foundation of who we are. They deserve our thanks and consideration. In addition to our appreciation our mothers need to have their lives made easier. Countries need to provide maternal health, guard against women violence, provide education and ensure childcare.

Maternal Health

Women in African and other developing countries continue to face major challenges in motherhood. Childbirth, which should be a cause for celebration, is a grave health risk for too many women in developing countries. A woman in Kenya is 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than a woman in a developed country. Kenya had 413 maternal deaths per 1000 in 2008 compared to 4 per 1000 in Italy (with lowest world incidence) It is therefore crucial for countries to improve maternal health.

Violence Against Women

Violence against women, many of whom are mothers, remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time.  It has far-reaching consequences endangering the lives of women and girls, harming their families and communities, and damaging the very fabric of societies.

Ending and preventing violence against women should therefore

be a key priority for all countries.

Education

We must also ensure universal access to education to women.  The benefits of educating women and girls accrue not only to individual families but to whole countries, unlocking the potential of women to contribute to broader development efforts.  Statistics also show that educated mothers are much more likely to keep their children in school, meaning that the benefits of education transcend generations.

Childcare Made Easier.

As we strive to support mothers in their care giving work, we should develop and expand family-friendly policies and services, such as childcare centres, that would reduce some of the workload placed on women.

Women and men alike need stronger public support and to share equally in work and family responsibilities.  Families built on the recognition of equality between women and men will contribute to more stable and productive societies.

While there are many challenges in our changing world, we need to appreciate the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to rising the next generation.  By rewarding their efforts and enhancing their living conditions, we can secure a better future for all.

This article first appeared in the June--July 2010 issue of Woman of Faith magazine. Copyright Woman of Faith Magazine. All rights reserved. For comments write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it