Dear Mothers

Dear Mothers,

Today is Mother’s Day. As a child who had a phenomenal females–aunts, grandmothers, adopted mothers from college–and a mother who helped raise me be the outspoken individual that I am now, I have a favor to ask.

God gave you the blessing of being a mother whether you gave birth or not which means He gave you a major responsibility. I always looked at it this way . . . no child asked to be born into this world. Therefore, you have the responsibility to care for that child. Caring for that child means making sure that child grows up healthy–emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. God honored you by trusting you with a life besides your own.

I say all of that to ask you–at least some of you–to be the phenomenal women you can be and please start by making your sons respect women . . . period! Don’t make excuse for them like it’s just boys being boys or it’s locker room talk. Remember how you want a man to speak about you. That should be what you want your sons to say about another female.

If you don’t, there could be serious ramifications like Brendan Leipsic’s dismissal from the Washington Capitals for his misogynistic comments about women. Or, it could be worse. He could end up being sued or put in jail because that “boys banter” took a turn for the worse like the boys in Steubenville, Ohio.

It doesn’t matter how talented he is nor does it matter if he a big shot at college or the NHL, NFL, MLS, MLB, NBA or an Olympian. It just does not matter who he is but it does matter WHO he is as a human being. There is no reason for another human being to fat shame someone or call someone ugly. While in the former a person MAY be able to do something about it, a person’s looks like their race or gender is not under her control because that’s all genetics.

Better yet, teach your sons to look for inner beauty. Outer beauty dies in all of us, but the heart and soul’s beauty grows as we mature. Character and integrity should reign supreme over peer pressure and public approval. To borrow from the title of the late Kobe Bryant, the mountain doesn’t move for the storm.

If you want your son to bring home a character daughter-in-law for you, then teach him to be a genuinely character guy. One who knows all the rules of being a gentleman. One who tries not to curse and is kind. One who is well-rounded and respects people of all backgrounds. Raise a son who has many friends of different socio-economic and racial backgrounds. Don’t teach your child to hate or let him be a bully. He’ll just grow up to be a bully or jerk . . . at least until he’s caught like Leipsic and his friends.

While I know this should not be just your issue to deal with, and trust me the dads’ turn is coming, please consider doing me and the millions of other women out here in the world this favor. We’d really appreciate it.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Mother’s Day, and thank you for all you do do.

God bless!