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The President of the Republic on Mother's Day, 11 May 2003, at the Concert Hall Estonia
11.05.2003


Dear Mothers,

Now, your most loved ones having handed you flowers and congratulated you on the occasion of Mother's Day, permit me to congratulate you, too! While doing this, for a moment, I would like to cast my mind back to my childhood.

As you can see, I am a grey-haired man already and thus the first memories of my childhood date back to a time far away. Although many years have passed and new memories constantly added on to the old, I still bear in my mind some beautiful moments from home.

In my childhood, farmer's family was joined together, first of all, by a shared home and work, in which also children from an early age, in accordance with their abilities, had to take part. Every child had its day-to-day duties - be it driving cattle home, sweeping the yard or doing the dishes. It might seem unbelievable, but we liked those permanent duties and concomitant sense of responsibility. We, the children, also liked in the evening together with our parents to review the day and, while doing this, to feel just as important as the farmer and his wife.

Of course, as to the home, I don't have only memories of working. They also include my mother and father who, in my view, were extremely hard-working and demanding but always very fair. We had a caring and gentle grandma and a rather strict grandpa. I also remember games we used to play with my sister and fooling around with her. When we later in the primary school started to play mandola in string orchestra, mother and father sometimes in the evening wanted us to play some pieces them as well. I can remember that sometimes they too joined in with their voices, although neither of them was blessed with a particular talent for singing.

In a way it is inevitable that starting to speak about mother, one ends up thinking and speaking about home. Since, for a child, mother means equally home - warmth and safety, something that seems to be eternal and he takes for granted. Friedebert Tuglas in his figurative language, seeing mother through the eyes of little Illimar, has given a vivid description of this feeling:

''Like before, the room was filled with sunlight and peace. Mother's presence and kettle's murmur only strengthened this pleasant feeling. Looking up from below, mother seemed even taller than she actually was. She was lifting pots and casseroles, bowls and plates, sweeping crumbs from the cooking range and trash from the floor. The mother bustled about and worked as usual.''

Neither resorting to Tuglas nor my personal reminiscences were targeted at idealizing the way of life of that time, although it truly contained a lot of everlasting values. By my reminiscences I only wanted to highlight the then cooperation between several generations both in daily life and in passing on values. I think that is just what today's children are missing indeed.

Dear Mothers,

You are trying to do your utmost to compensate your children for what tends to perish during fundamental upheavals in society and when values are changing. Thank you very much for these efforts!

When I earlier spoke about mother and family, first of all seen through the eyes of child and starting from his needs, then now, I would like to ask: but what are the expectations of mothers? It's true that we are engaged in debates on how to increase birthrate and to ensure the survival of the Estonian people but, unfortunately, the mothers' voice in this discussion can be heard too rarely.

Perhaps it is caused by the circumstance that mother perceives both child's and her own expectations as if with a seventh sense and it is not always possible to describe them. Or maybe have certain doubts about politicians' promises and deeds fitting together wormed their way into mother's heart? I am afraid you would answer this question affirmatively.

Recently, we heard about the movement ''Eesti lapse eest'' (For Estonian Child) initiated by four mothers who promise to make the future of our nation their top priority. The mothers asked maybe the most important question ever: what do we need the Estonian state for, if we can offer our children neither dignified childhood, nor good education?

The message of the four mothers that, without taking the responsibility for the future of children already born, appeals for giving birth to more babies cannot be justified either, was addressed in the first place to politicians. Therefore, let's think today as well about what kind of attitude to matrimony and raising children prevails in our society. Is it supportive and appreciative? Obviously you have reasons to be doubtful or even to say no. For why else should we worry about extremely low birthrate of our people over the last years, about too many school-drop-outs and large numbers of street children. Thus, looking farther forward, we begin to be filled with a foreboding that the staying power and survival of the Estonians as a nation might be endangered.

You, Dear Mothers, have tried your utmost to release us from worries about these problems. Therefore, I would rather call on your workmates and husbands, but also on statesmen and social scientists without whose advice and support mothers could hardly perform their responsible role successfully.

No child should grow up without a safe and loving home. And likewise, thinking of how our posterity will maintain their lives, there are no alternatives to healthy ways of life and to the stance that each child should be given education corresponding with his abilities. Without the support of whole society to the families with children, be it in the form of tailored tax benefits or housing programmes, it is inconceivable to safeguard our nation's future.

I suppose you were just as glad as I when the coalition agreement recently endorsed gave clear preference to children and education. Our memorandum of national agreement, to which all of Estonia's larger political parties have acceded, set similar priorities. We wish politicians strength to reach their goals!

Dear Listeners,

I hope it's no overstatement to say that mother is the best and most important human being in the world. Child's first words are directed at mother, poets dedicate the most beautiful lines of their poems to mothers, and motherly love is probably the most selfless feeling ever. Both children and aged persons on the occasion of their successes remember with gratitude their mothers.

You, the mothers, have definitely felt happy to be a mother. You have experienced respect and gratitude, seen love in the eyes of your husbands thanking you for this sense of security that your commitment has given to the family. I am sure that you have enjoyed the greatest happiness just being in the midst of your families.

Among you, there are also mothers whose hearts have spared love to raise children others than their own. Probably only foster mothers themselves know the true weight of the burden of responsibility they bear. But I am sure you have experienced also the happiness, which can only be felt by those giving a selfless gift.

I wish all of you lasting happiness and that it be completed with a sense of steady security and caring attention offered you and your family by our state.

Happy Mother's Day, care and love to all of us!


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