By Jim Daly

I was watching television the other day, an Alaskan subsistence living show, when a native mother of several young children took out a bear on her property that was a threat to her children. She said afterward: “The number one job of a mother is to protect her children. Looking back at a situation, I don’t even know what is happening until it is all over. And it surprises me what I can do.” A friend of hers that was there said: “In the same situation I hope I can do what needs to be done.”

That is the wish of virtually all women when there is someone whom they care about. And with only a few minor exceptions, they would sacrifice anything for their children. Or their partners.

I think we have all heard stories of a mother who single-handedly lifted a car off their child. We have heard the stories of mothers who were malnourished because they gave the food they had to their children. We have heard of the mothers who have thrown themselves between danger and their children. Many mothers have given their lives for their children, or their partners.

What some people don’t understand is that they would also sacrifice anything for their partners, just like their children.

I have been married for almost 47 years to one who has repeatedly sacrificed for me. She has spent many nights alone while I was either deployed or devoted to my work more than her. She has spent many days when I was working from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., whether I needed to or not. She raised two children almost without my support.

There was a period of five years when I was deployed more than a thousand days. When we were home we worked many long hours getting ready to deploy. Then we went overseas for nine months.

She has listened to many of my war stories, most of which are truly ugly, without any judgment or condemnation. She has listened to my guilt, and fear, and self-condemnation.

She has put up with my self-medication with alcohol. She has gently put me to bed when I had too much to drink. She has worried about me when I had too much to drink to get home. She has encouraged me not to use alcohol, because in the long run it does not really help.

She has put up with anger that went off without any fuse. She has put up with anxiety that has me as jumpy as a cat on a hot stove. She has put up with emotions that run from hot to cold in a minute, and then back again in the next minute. She has put up with my rants and explosive temper tantrums.

She has always been there when I needed her. She was there when I needed someone to fill in for me, at almost anything. She has learned what I need, and how to recognize what that is, and how to provide it. She has been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. She gives me space when I need to be alone, but is prepared to provide whatever support I need, whenever I need it. She has taken emotional outbursts that I know were very hurtful, and comforted me when I was finished.

I am sure that many of you veterans out there, partners out there, know exactly what I am talking about.

These women, who become mothers, whether of children or partners, are amazing. Their love has no boundary and no explanation, except that they are mothers. Their sacrifice is complete. They can do anything when it is needed.

I wish that I could thank my wife Doris enough for all her support, all her sacrifices, all her love. She took “the number one job” seriously, even with a child like me. I don’t know if I could have gotten this far without her. I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing without her. I know that I would not be in the condition that I am without her. God bless her.

I also wish to thank all mothers that have ever sacrificed for their “children.” God bless them all.

We should all thank the mothers who take “the number one job” seriously. We should remember them and their sacrifices every day, but especially on Mother’s Day.

Please Remember: Many of our young men and women have sacrificed greatly around the world, to protect our country, our rights and freedoms, our allies and the Flag of the United States of America. I am proud to have been one of them, and would gladly defend this great country again today or any day.

Jim Daly, a retired captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a member of the Aberdeen Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 224 and its Veterans Service Officer. He is also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.