Let’s shine a light on the unsung heroes!
Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of every May. In light of the special day that has just passed this weekend, we reflect on the magnificence of motherhood and its impact on our communities. Our mothers have given us life in more ways than one and we should embrace their significance and aspire to be as instrumental as they are.
Mothers are the foundation of our families. For some, a mother is the only family they have, and single-parent households have become more common. Despite the family structure mothers are able to provide for their children under various circumstances. Our mothers provide nurture and warmth that is vital to our growth and development. It is a great sacrifice to become a mother as mothers are able to give their children support unlike any other.
Here is a valid question that needs to be addressed. Motherhood is often portrayed as a beautiful and fulfilling experience, but it’s not always the case. We tend to overlook the struggles and sacrifices that come with it. It’s time to acknowledge the mothers who put their lives and ambitions on hold to raise their children. They deserve recognition and appreciation for their selfless act.
We need to celebrate the mothers who have faced financial difficulties, health issues, and emotional distress for the sake of their families. Their sacrifices should not go unnoticed, and we should take a moment to thank them for everything they have done.
It’s time to give these mothers a separate day to celebrate their devotion, strength, and resilience. Let’s not forget the sacrifices they have made and continue to make every day. It’s time to shine a light on the unsung heroes of motherhood and give them the recognition they deserve.
Mothers provide us with generations of knowledge by exposing us to culture. Our mothers teach us our values implicitly via their selfless actions that express care. They guide us into becoming our highest selves by teaching us life lessons; this can be showing us how to cook, teaching us to be mindful of our surroundings, or sharing their experiences for us to grow. Mothers are educators ensuring that we know right from wrong and live a life that can day make them proud.
To honor our mothers, we should acknowledge all of their sacrifices and let them motivate us to be better people. We can start by helping them through their life as they often do for us and expressing our gratitude for all that they have done. People of all ages can make the lives of their mothers better. This can be done by doing acts of service like doing chores or picking up groceries. You can also plan something special and enjoy each other’s company. Most importantly we should try to honor our mothers beyond Mother’s Day. Each mother is unique, and we should go out of our way to make them feel special every day.
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Affairs In Order?
Have you ever heard the expression, “get your affairs in order?” When you hear this, what are your initial thoughts? Is it a battle cry for getting a list of all your worldly possessions in order and sent over to your financial planner?
What if all your finances were well tended to, however your health went neglected and now your doctor tells you to get your affairs in order? Then what would you do?
Here is the thing, most people with a terminal illness are often encouraged to have a medical power of attorney in place to authorize a person of their choosing to make medical decisions according to the wishes of the grantor (the individual authorizing the power of attorney). Interestingly enough, if you don’t have a medical proxy, whoever were to show up to the hospital first, whether they do or do not have the know-how, could become the person making decisions for you.
What if you do want to be resuscitated but the person that arrives first, doesn’t know you want to be resuscitated and because their personal belief differs, they choose not to resuscitate you. If ever you find yourself with a harp and a white gown in a choir of angels, safe to say hindsight is 20/20 and you’ll be praying to rewind the clock to do that one thing that seemed so insignificant. How about if you don’t have a terminal illness; would an advanced medical directive –– power of attorney (POA) be necessary? Probably not, but a financial power of attorney may be a good idea to have in place.
As a doctor that is also a financial planner, my best recommendation would be to have a POA and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Why? It covers not only incapacitation for medical purposes, but a financial power of attorney may also be useful for incarceration when a family may need to access the account of the primary income provider who may be detained because of something they did, something they didn’t do, or something they forgot; like a bench warrant for an unpaid parking ticket in a state they visited a few years ago. That would be more than just a mere inconvenience but that is why we should plan.
A Power of Attorney, whether medical or financial, gives you the power to ensure your family is protected, or that they can protect themselves with proper planning because it is not having a plan that fails, it is failing to plan that does. Cover your assets.