Joba Loves His Messy Mom, Do You?
I am not a fairweather Yankees fan. I love Joba Chamberlain, even when his mom is brought up on meth dealing charges (when he gives up four runs in the first, weeeeeeell…).
The Yankees pitcher’s comments had to warm the cockles of moms everywhere, especially this week of all weeks (ahem, look at your calendar).
“You’ve only got one mom, man, and you’ve got to be thankful for her,”
said Chamberlain.
“I still love her.”
Of course, it’s not Joba’s fault that his mom, Jacqueline Standley, was allegedly selling methamphetamines back home in Nebraska.
It isn’t any kid’s fault when mom is a serious mess. But this is certainly sit down and take stock week, especially for parents. Joba’s sort of right – most of us only get one mom (yes, children of lesbians get two, kids in open adoptions get two . . . but the point is, your options are still limited!).
So does that mean we all have to love our moms? Or our dads for that matter? Or does it mean Jacqueline Standley is REALLY lucky to have a son who knows life throws you curveballs?
Ask any parent how their own parents play into their choices as a parent today, and you’ll get one of two answers: 1. They’re doing things the way their parents did it. or 2. They’re trying very hard NOT to do it the way their parents did it.
We might only get one mom (or the equivalent), but that doesn’t mean she had to be any good. And since we won’t all have a Yankees pitcher for a kid, we’d best work our butts off to try to not to make a mess of it.
Image: DailyNews
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“So does that mean we all have to love our moms? Or our dads for that matter? Or does it mean Jacqueline Standley is REALLY lucky to have a son who knows life throws you curveballs?”
I think the latter. I don’t believe you’re obligated to love anyone – you don’t owe anyone your love, and if they treat you badly or abuse you, you have every right to leave them with no backwards glances, even if they’re your parent. People who parent choose to do a thankless job with no reward except what they choose to derive from their child’s happiness. The act of raising a child doesn’t obligate that child to love you.
But we feel that it does. And I have seen so many adults who feel obligated to their parents when those parents are abusive and disrespectful towards them – it totally burns me up. You don’t owe anyone love. You love who you love and who loves you back.
Wow, she looks just like him.
It’s almost Mother’s Day so I’m going to leave it at that.