First of all, I just want to say thank you to my mom. And happy Mother’s Day (in a couple days).
I also want to express my appreciation for all the women in my life, including my sister, great-grandmother, both grandmas, aunts and cousins. And to all my female friends, especially those here at the University of La Verne.
After all, guys, without them we would not even be here.
But back to mothers, seeing as Mother’s Day is fast approaching. Sure they give us a hard time sometimes, but it is only out of concern and caring.
I know that, were it not for my mom, Trish Nixon, I would not be the person I am. I like to think that I am a good person and a nice guy, and I owe that to my mom.
She instilled in me the importance of being respectful and the need to be understanding and appreciative.
Being a mom is probably the hardest job anyone can have, and I am sure that I have made it hard, but hopefully not too difficult. However, it can also offer the greatest of rewards to mothers, knowing that her child has grown into a responsible and respectful adult, and knowing that it is because of the effort she put forth.
And yes, mom, despite some of the doubts you may still hold, you can reflect on more than 19 years of hard work and know that you did a good job raising your son to be just that.
No doubt, it is difficult for a mother to come to a point where she may not have as strong an influence as she once did. And it is probably very difficult to come to grips with the realization that she is not the only woman in her son’s life.
Which brings me to the next logical subject: female friends.
I have heard countless horror stories, at least that is what I would call them, about the way a guy treated a girl. And it just amazes me to think that there are people who have absolutely no respect for women, because that is what it comes down to.
Of course cheating is the most obvious example of a lack of respect, among other things. It should not be difficult to appreciate what you have, and it is not too much to ask that someone be faithful to another person. And it is not too hard to be considerate of someone else’s feelings.
In my experience, female friends, simply by their nature, can offer things guys would not look for in a male friend. Genuine compassion and concern come to mind. And that does not just mean girlfriends, either.
So why is it so hard to appreciate and respect women? I do not see why it should be, although it obviously is for some people. Some people just do not realize how lucky they are to have someone with which to share everything, which, at least in my opinion, is all anyone can ask.
They make you complete (and sometimes completely miserable). Even just the sight of her face can make everything better. Of course, I would not really know much about that. But I am thankful for all the female friends I have, and I would hope they feel the same way.
And I owe it all to my mom. A guy’s mother is the first contact he has with the opposite sex, so that relationship and the values conveyed are essential to every future relationship. In that regard, I know I was lucky.
So be sure to take at least just a little time and show how much how you care. A simple card, maybe some flowers, possibly even a nice dinner. Even a simple thank you.
Brice Nixon, a sophomore journalism major, is editorial director of the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at nixonb@ulv.edu.
