Guest Op-Ed: COVID-19 and Mother’s Day

By Dr. Glenn Mollette

 I wish mom were still here so I could take her out to Sunday dinner. The problem with Sunday dinner this Mother’s Day is that most of the restaurants either won’t be open yet or operating under new guidelines. Restaurants make their biggest payday of the year typically on Mother’s Day. Even in states that are wide open for dining there is the problem of social distancing. Can you imagine this week going to a restaurant that only is allowed 25% occupancy or maybe 50% occupancy at best? Many states will still be closed tight this Sunday adding further pain to the economic dilemma of business owners across America. For some restaurants being closed this Sunday will be the nail in the coffin of their business. 

 This year to celebrate mom’s day you still can patronize your favorite restaurant by ordering from them and bringing the food back home. This will still take some pressure off mom. Also, insist on cleaning up the mess when it’s over. Mom shouldn’t have to do this on Mother’s Day,

 Overall this is the toughest Mother’s Day we’ve had in America during my lifetime. So many millions are struggling financially. Buying a nice meal from a restaurant to take home to feed everyone is a stretch for many.  With 70,000 or more deaths now due to Covid-19 this Mother’s Day will be the hardest day ever for a lot of families. There will be an empty chair at the table. Millions of Americans have moms in nursing homes. Their moms are in danger of being exposed to Covid-19. People will probably not be able to visit mother because she is in the nursing home. This is painful. There are just so many distressing scenarios being played out around the world. From health care workers who are at risk, to unemployment and a new era of poverty hitting out country, to people just going crazy over social distancing.

The way to celebrate Mother’s Day this year is don’t forget. Don’t distance yourself from this celebration. Honor mom while you have her. Honor some other mothers too who have been special to you. 

When I was a child, I had $5 my dad gave me for being “brave” to have my tonsils removed. The only thing I wanted to do as a child was to take mom and dad to the local G.C. Murphy’s grill. We sat at the bar and we all had hotdogs and cokes that cost me about $3. My mom didn’t want me to spend my $5 but she smiled when I bought lunch that day as a 7-year-old kid. I would love to have mom back this Sunday and do anything that might make her smile. This Sunday, it could be the simplest thing but give it a try. Mom is worth the effort. 

Glenn Mollette is the publisher of Newburgh Press, Liberty Torch and various other publishing imprints; a national columnist –  American Issues and Common Sense opinions, analysis, stories and features appear each week In over 500 newspapers, websites and blogs across the United States.