Love that transcends generations
She is our first teacher because she knows the answer to every question. She is also a doctor and a nurse because her kisses heal. She has a superpower that allows her to find lost things - they are only lost when she can't find them, and she cooks the best in the world because love is the secret ingredient in every dish she prepares. She gives the best advice, because no one in the world wants you well like she does, and everyone who has ever come home late, even for a minute, knows that she always knows what time it is. She is, you guessed it, a mom.
Every second Sunday in May, Mother's Day is celebrated, dedicated to all the women who shape our everyday lives with their hearts and hands. That day is a time for giving flowers and greeting cards, and it is also an opportunity to generally reflect on the role of mothers in time.
"A mother must always think twice: once for herself and once for her child."
As the world changed, so did motherhood. And while the essence of that role has remained the same, the environment in which it takes place has changed significantly over the decades. The first major change, if we look from the 1970s onwards, is the decline in the number of live births. In the past, large families were common, but today, with increasing urbanisation and economic challenges, their number is decreasing. In 2023, a total of 31 673 women gave birth, and a total of 32 170 children were born alive, a decrease of as much as 50.4% compared to 1971.
"Mothers don't sleep! They just worry with their eyes closed."
Motherhood is certainly one of the most noble, but also the most challenging roles. Every mother who has spent many sleepless nights and often neglected her own needs knows this, and the first months of motherhood can be especially demanding. Of course, with the number of children, the responsibilities multiply. However, most children born in 2023, 45.1% to be exact, were firstborns, while 34.0% of children that year were second born, 19.8% were third born, etc.
"Who needs a superhero when she's already here?"
When do women, on average, decide to take that step that will inevitably turn their everyday lives upside down and reveal to them the strength and endurance they never knew they had? The average age of a mother at first birth in 1971 was 22.6 years, and by 2023 it had increased by as much as 7.1 years. If we look at the average age of mothers at birth in general, it is evident that this age is increasing, from 25.5 years in 1971 to 31.2 years in 2023.
"It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do in life - you always need your mom."
Although the average age at which women become mothers is gradually increasing, there are still exceptions, and some become mothers earlier or later than this average. For example, in 1971, 15.3% of the total number of live births were born to mothers aged 15 to 19, and in 2023, this share was 1.9%. However, when it comes to mothers aged 40 and over, a slightly different trend is observed. Namely, in 1971, only 1.7% of live births were born to mothers aged 40 and over, and in 2023, this share increased to 4.9%.
"Life doesn't come with instructions, it comes with a mother."
Just as life does not come with instructions, unfortunately, neither does motherhood. Although technological advances have improved the environment of modern motherhood, thanks to the quick and easy availability of all relevant information, there is no manual for motherhood, and navigating this role very often comes down to the method of trial and error. Although there is no school for mothers, the educational structure of mothers has certainly changed over the decades. According to data on the educational structure of mothers for 2023, the share of live births to mothers with secondary school education and highly educated mothers is almost equal.
In conclusion, despite the changes in trends over the decades, motherhood remains one of the most important and intense experiences of life. Regardless of all the social transformations, one thing does not change, and that is - the timeless love of a mother that transcends generations.
Happy Mother's Day!
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