Well done, Mum!

To help students appreciate what makes a good mother or ‘mother figure’ and honour all women who have acted as mother figures in their lives.

by Tim and Vicky Scott

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To help students appreciate what makes a good mother or ‘mother figure’ and honour all women who have acted as mother figures in their lives.

Preparation and materials

• You will need a photo of your mother or a mother figure to you, or pictures of famous mums and their children.
• You could play a game matching famous children to their mothers:
  Knox Leon, Vivienne Marcheline, Shiloh Nouvel, Maddox and Zahara – Angelina Jolie
  Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz – Victoria Beckham
  Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward Windsor – The Queen
  Malia Ann and Natasha (Sasha) – Michelle Obama
  Bart, Lisa and Maggie – Marge Simpson
  Amy, Kelly and Jack – Sharon Osbourne
• As an introduction or concluding song, play ‘Mamma Mia’ by Abba.
• Warning: Be sensitive in how you approach this subject. Not everyone’s experience of ‘Mum’ may be positive. Mother’s Day can be a difficult time for children who do not have a mother living at home. Therefore in this assembly, mother figures in a general sense should be celebrated – this could include stepmothers, foster mothers, aunts, grandmothers and big sisters, as well as mums.

Assembly

1. Display the pictures – of your mum or of the famous mums and their children.
   
   In the UK and Northern Ireland, Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which this year is 14 March. We can use the day not only to honour mothers, but to thank other women who have acted as mother figures in our lives; these might be stepmothers, aunts, big sisters or grandmothers, foster mothers or other carers.
   
   Children often give their mothers a gift and card on the day to thank them. Many churches give the children in the congregation a little bunch of spring flowers to give their mums as a thank you for their care and love throughout the year.
   
   Mother’s Day is celebrated across the world on various different dates. However, the role of the mother has been celebrated and honoured in recorded history since the ancient Greeks. It is important to value our mothers; after all, they have cared for us since the day we were born, and even before that.
2. Mothers often feel that their work is never done. They’re always exhausted, there’s no big financial reward, and society sometimes tends to diminish motherhood. Why bother being a mum? Why every year do millions of women decide that they want to become mothers?
   
   There are many emotional times common to all mums: the mixture of pain and joy of childbirth; new parents learning to cope with new responsibilities and sleepless nights; and then years later learning to let your grown children leave ‘the nest’, not to mention all the ups and downs in between.
   
   But motherhood is a great investment and it can have incredible daily rewards. You can never overestimate the influence of a good mother. Tomorrow’s leaders are moulded in the homes of today, often with the influence of mothers.
3. Our mums mean a lot to us. Everyone has a mother, but not everyone has a mum living with them. Some of us have a ‘mother figure’ in our lives who takes the important role of ‘mum’. We should try to appreciate everything our mums do for us.
4. Do you remember your mum treasuring the pictures you drew or painted when you were smaller? Do you remember your mum teaching you how to tie your shoelaces before you started school? (Or did you have Velcro shoes!) And think of all that she’s done since then, and still does for you because she loves you.
5. When was the last time you were encouraged by something your mum said or did for you? When was the last time you said thank you to your mother for all her love and care?
   
   Now and in the future (for many of you will become parents yourselves), we need to appreciate what mums do. Never forget to say to mums everywhere, and mother figures, three words: ‘Well done, Mum.’

Time for reflection

Mother’s Day gives us an opportunity to remember the mother figures in our lives. Let’s take a minute to think about these important people: the things they do for us, and how we can tell them how much we care.

For instance, if you are influenced by your mum as a good role model, remember to thank her.

Let today be an occasion to honour all the mother figures in your life who have nurtured and inspired you.

Mothers are often selfless enough to go without so that their children are provided for. It is so important that we thank and appreciate our mothers or female role models for this kind of love.

Of course, there will be times of disagreement and frustration between you and your mum, but try to look at things from her point of view, see the big picture. She loves you and would do anything for you, especially if you were in trouble.

Finally, think about the fact that Christians believe that God is the perfect parent – a mother and father to everyone. God is always there to love us and support us, whatever we do.

Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for our mums
and those who have been good mother figures in our lives.
Amen.