Drenthe mothers are also being put in the spotlight again today. In the ArendState residential care center in Assen, residents reminisce about everything that makes motherhood so special for them.
Because Mother’s Day is ‘very important’, the mothers in the residential care center say loudly. “In motherhood, your children can show on that day: we really appreciate it.”
And that appreciation comes from both sides and already created a lot of enthusiasm as young mothers. “I loved becoming a mother,” says Pieta Mierbeek.
She receives support from her fellow resident. “I always said: I want to be a ‘real’ mother,” says Fennie Kampen. “That when the children come home from school, I am ready with my cup of tea.”
Even later in life, women still get a lot of pleasure from this. “I also loved becoming a grandmother,” Mierbeek looks back on that time. “We took care of our grandson for ten years. Well, that’s the best thing that can happen.”
Yet not every mother in the residential care center believes that their children need to celebrate this today. “I am not a mother one day, but I am a mother all year round,” says Aukje Kuipers.
“I don’t put pressure on my children and I don’t tell them: you have to do this, you have to do that. I am very easy-going and very positive,” she continues.
It is not necessarily about the day itself, but mainly the memories between mother and child that you make.
“I had such a nice Mother’s Day once,” Janny Gorter-van Leeuwen remembers well. “My husband came in with his bicycle and the children on the front and back, with seats included. Then I got a bicycle for Mother’s Day.”
And that was special because families in the past were not nearly as wealthy as they are today. With these changes, motherhood has also changed over the years, say the women in ArendState.
“When I see what they do with the children, I sometimes have the feeling that we have failed our children,” Kampen admits.
“And they now take the children to parks and all kinds of outings. That just wasn’t an option in the past,” she says.
What will always remain is the appreciation you can express to your mother. “Those are the most beautiful things,” says Mierbeek. “How you do it and whatever you do, it’s just good that you think about it.”
