Economy of motherhood has currency, raw materials like no other

"And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see – or like a sealed letter, they could never plainly read." – Alice Walker

Grandmas, aunts, sometimes sisters, but especially mothers fuel the economy of motherhood.

This is an economy like no other, where moms are the majority shareholders. They are the primary investors who sacrifice and sacrifice some more for their children.

Among the raw materials in this economy are gentle guidance, seamless acceptance, solid protectionism and, most of all, unconditional love.

No matter their age, children are the primary consumers in this economy.

The relationship between investors and consumers produces a universal alchemy caused by self-denial on the behalf of all moms combined with an insatiable need of all children to be mothered.

The economy of motherhood has a currency of indefinable intimacy and indelible devotion.

In this economy, mothers also work hard to make up for any deficits their children may have.

They rationalize that an incorrigible child is exercising critical thinking. An embattled child is protecting himself. A sassy child is holding her own.

This economy may even pay far-reaching dividends from its priceless "goods" and "services" in the form of compassionate stewards whom the children may become.

Not surprisingly, the geography of this ancient economy can be mapped most clearly through the kitchen, where food transforms motherly love into something so tangible that you can smell it, see it, touch it and taste it.

The economy of motherhood consistently rebounds and recovers from economic downturns, since moms usually find a way to make things better with a hopeful smile, a reassuring hug, an affirming look, a batch of cookies or a loaded debit card.

[Happy Mother’s Day.]

2009 © Copyright Paula Damon. A resident of Southeast South Dakota, Paula Damon is a popular columnist and freelance writer. Her column writing has won first-place in National Federation of Press Women and Iowa Press Women Communications Contests. Recently, her work took second place in the South Dakota Press Women Communications Contests. To contact Paula Damon, email pauladamon@iw.net or join her blog at http://my-story-your-story.blogspot.com/.