“Mother’s Day, a day and a time when the kids and dads send cards and flowers showing their gratefulness to their mothers. And while this holiday is modern in origins, we do find examples, in history, of mothers becoming upset when their children don’t write or show proper acknowledgment.”[1]
Check out this letter from a first-century mom, her name is Hikane. She writes to her son Isidoros (I am just going to call him Isie); she writes her son Isie, scolding him for not writing to her. This first-century Greek papyrus letter, was found in a Roman dump, in Egypt. Well, at least he did not burn it. The papyrus is in fragments, but her frustration comes in loud and clear.
“[Hikane] to Isie [her son, greetings. First of all] I thought it necessary, since the packet boat was putting out to sea, to write . . . I am in Berenike. I wrote you a letter [?but did not receive a] letter. Was it for this that I carried you for ten months and nursed you for three years, so that you would be incapable of remembering me by letter? And similarly you dimissed me though the Oasites . . . not I you. But I left your brothers in Arabia . . . so that . . Egypt I might see your face and . . . breath. I only ask and beg and adjure you by the one whom you . . . and by the memory of the one who begot you, to sail away if you are well.”
I don’t think we need the missing fragments to understand what she is stressing.
And it is hilarious that she pointedly reminds her son that she carried him ten months. It kind of hit home with me: there have been a couple of times when I poked at the kids on some occasion: “Yes… that woman, your Mother, you know the one that carried you for 9 months…” This letter was an awesome find!
The story of Hikane and Isie… The moral of this story? Take time to write OR CALL your mother. AND ALSO, Science has proven that calling mom can reduce stress:
Stressed? Calling Mom Helps[2]
And to you mothers, it works both ways… Want to freak your kids out, just call them up out of the blue, tell them you are thinking about them and that you love them, then end the call – no what’cha doin’ or so and so said… that’s it, nothing more - just thinking and loving. Love you, Bye. Click…
Freak city! See how the stress just leaves you! LOL
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/12/stress.mother.voice.call/index.html
[2] http://www.bricecjones.com/blog/dont-forgot-your-mom-a-lesson-from-the-first-century
Check out this letter from a first-century mom, her name is Hikane. She writes to her son Isidoros (I am just going to call him Isie); she writes her son Isie, scolding him for not writing to her. This first-century Greek papyrus letter, was found in a Roman dump, in Egypt. Well, at least he did not burn it. The papyrus is in fragments, but her frustration comes in loud and clear.
“[Hikane] to Isie [her son, greetings. First of all] I thought it necessary, since the packet boat was putting out to sea, to write . . . I am in Berenike. I wrote you a letter [?but did not receive a] letter. Was it for this that I carried you for ten months and nursed you for three years, so that you would be incapable of remembering me by letter? And similarly you dimissed me though the Oasites . . . not I you. But I left your brothers in Arabia . . . so that . . Egypt I might see your face and . . . breath. I only ask and beg and adjure you by the one whom you . . . and by the memory of the one who begot you, to sail away if you are well.”
I don’t think we need the missing fragments to understand what she is stressing.
And it is hilarious that she pointedly reminds her son that she carried him ten months. It kind of hit home with me: there have been a couple of times when I poked at the kids on some occasion: “Yes… that woman, your Mother, you know the one that carried you for 9 months…” This letter was an awesome find!
The story of Hikane and Isie… The moral of this story? Take time to write OR CALL your mother. AND ALSO, Science has proven that calling mom can reduce stress:
Stressed? Calling Mom Helps[2]
And to you mothers, it works both ways… Want to freak your kids out, just call them up out of the blue, tell them you are thinking about them and that you love them, then end the call – no what’cha doin’ or so and so said… that’s it, nothing more - just thinking and loving. Love you, Bye. Click…
Freak city! See how the stress just leaves you! LOL
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/12/stress.mother.voice.call/index.html
[2] http://www.bricecjones.com/blog/dont-forgot-your-mom-a-lesson-from-the-first-century
RSS Feed
