OPINION:
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, my wife and the mother of our children, and all the other mothers around the world this weekend. I am grateful to them for their unconditional love and constant inspiration to me and our family. We should be thanking our mothers every day of the year — and not just this Sunday.
It is hard to believe, but some people are telling us that mothers do not exist. Amazingly, I was the last governor of Wisconsin to ensure a proclamation for Mother’s Day, as the words “mother” and “mom” have been eliminated from state government under the current governor.
“Woke” commentators now use the phrase “birthing person” to replace mother. So much for following the science. The definition of a mother is a female parent. The definition of female, according to the dictionary, is “of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs, distinguished biologically by the production of gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes.”
A mother, however, is far more than a “birthing person.” Nearly 80% of mothers take responsibility for choosing the health care providers for their children. Women are more likely than men to visit the doctor. In other words, they are the chief medical officers of their families.
Similarly, mothers are the drivers of early childhood development. This is critical to the success of a child.
What happens in the first three years of a child’s life is especially important as 80% of their brain is formed during that period. Spending time together builds a strong bond between a child and a parent. Mothers are typically the driving force behind reading at young ages.
There is a strong bond between a child and his or her mother that begins at the time of conception. The life of an unborn child grows inside its mother’s womb. It is why unborn children often react to the actions, good or bad, of their mother.
Years ago, I volunteered at the Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee. The center ran programs to help children with horrible health conditions because their mothers were using illegal drugs during pregnancy. It was a real-life example of the negative affect a mother’s action can have on an unborn child.
On the positive side, we also see the benefits of mothers who take measures to eat well, exercise, and avoid excessive alcohol or drug use during pregnancy. Mothers are so important to the well-being of children.
We must not bend to the force of the “woke” mob. Instead, we must honor our mothers on Mother’s Day.
In a similar way, we should protect women in athletic events. It is not fair for a 19-year-old woman to swim against a 10-year-old girl. So why is it fair for someone who was born a biological male to swim against athletes who were born biological females? It isn’t.
Mothers and fathers of female athletes across America should be upset with the disturbing uptick of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. Refusing to stand against this dangerous trend could lead to the end of competitive sports for young women and girls if we do nothing. It is shocking that so many of the people who fought for a level playing field are now silent, as transgender competitors slowly take over women’s sports.
Similarly, we should not allow sex change surgery for minors. There are laws in all 50 states that prohibit minors from receiving a tattoo. Surgically altering the sex of a child is much more permanent and dangerous than a tattoo, and to that end, I support states that prohibit the practice for minors.
Mothers and fathers of teenagers know how often they change their minds about any number of things. This type of surgery is largely irreversible, and the potential for psychological damage is much higher. Let’s face it: This is fundamentally different from piercing the ears of a minor. These sorts of changes affect a person for the rest of his or her life.
Sadly, far too many parents who are pushing these life-altering changes on their children seem to be more interested in becoming social media stars than doing the right thing. Plus, there is tremendous pressure to be the “cool kid,” and the perception on many social media platforms is that kids involved in transitions are elevated to star status. Unfortunately, these changes are a far cry from growing long hair or dying it hot pink.
This Mother’s Day, we are reminded of the importance and value of women in our lives. The importance of protecting their spaces and sports from people who wish to sacrifice them on the altar of “woke” ideology. We are forever grateful to them for their roles in our lives and in our society. This weekend, thank the women and mothers in your life for upholding what it means to truly be a woman.
• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019.
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