Your Turn: A thank you to all mothers, especially the mother of my children
To the working and stay-at-home mothers out there who hold down the hypothetical fort while their partners devote time, and overtime, to serving their careers, thank you.
My wife, Abby, is one of these mothers, and she deserves more words of gratitude than I could possibly have written here.
When we met, I was a shaggy-haired Geneva college football player, and she was a cheerleader. Once I received the approval from my now father-in-law, we were a match made in western PA heaven.
From the time, we started dating, she told me she wanted to be the mother to many. She is one of four. I am one of seven.
Today, 16 years into our marriage, we have eight children. And the constant joke is, Abby is actually a mother to nine if you include me.
While we prayed for a big family of our own, we didn’t anticipate that one of us would be in public office during our childbearing years. We do not regret our decisions. Our children serve as constant motivation for Abby and me to represent our area well so their generation can thrive. We never wish for different circumstances. Instead, we rely more strongly on our faith to guide us through this beautiful chaos, as Abby calls it.
As a state representative, I am committed to achieving excellence in government, overcoming obstacles to opportunity, and creating family-sustaining jobs. The job requires time away from home, and I justify the tens of thousands of miles on the road by making Pennsylvania a better place for our children, for their children. While I honor these commitments, Abby is at home base, sustaining our family with the utmost patience and tenderness, and raising our children, the next generation, to serve others and better our community.
Our situation is not a unique one. “The days are long” seems to be the catchphrase for parents these days. And for those parents who travel or work off-hours, the time at home with their children is never long enough.
On this Mother’s Day, I questioned what gift is worthy of Abby’s dedication to mothering our eight children. The reality is nothing can ever match the gifts that she gives so selflessly every day. And perhaps that may be the best gift we can give – letting mothers know that they’re indispensable, and not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.
Happy Mother’s Day to Abby. I would not be able to do my job without you, and truly no one does a better job than you.
State Rep. Josh Kail, R-15, Brighton Township, represents portions of Beaver and Washington counties.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Your Turn: A thank you to all mothers
