“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,” observes the mother’s voice in Langston Hughes’ “Mother To Son,” going on to offer encouragement and a reminder that a mother’s drive to survive is never ending.

“Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me” is poet Maya Angelou’s reckoning of the unconditional love of mother and child throughout developmental stages. A mother’s ability to maintain a constant love in times of a child’s confusion, “You smiled at my fears, saying/I could not stay in your lap forever,” and when growing meant growing away: “I spoke sharply of you, often/Because you were slow to understand./ I grew older and/ was stunned to find/How much knowledge you had gleaned. And so quickly.”

Edgar Allan Poe’s “To My Mother” is directed to his wife and mother-in-law, touching only briefly on reference to his biological mother, who died when Poe was very young. It is a not uncommon notion that Mother is the one who expresses motherly love under any given name.

A mother’s love is complicated. A child’s love is as confounding and marvelous as fraught with despair. Endless tales of separation, mentally and physically, abound in mother/child relationships. And it is true that not all mothers are able to love fully. Baggage carried through life can hamper motherly confidence; drugs, financial complications, difficult relationships with others for which the child becomes a symbol prevent the opening of the heart required for mothers to love, to lose, to stand still with arms open wide, no matter how far that child travels, no matter the roads that are chosen.

Mother’s Day is celebrated this year on May 9 in the US, and on that day, we honor the motherly among us. We can remind them that their wisdom and humor are lessons carried within, even when practicing without is hard. On Mother’s Day we note that the woman who birthed us, the woman who raised us, the woman who held out a hand in troubled times and clapped hands in celebration is a person who loves and is loved. We recognize that life ain’t no crystal stair for mothers.

It is hard to believe there is just one Mother’s Day in every year. Think how a mother’s heart would be lifted to be the recipient of love spoken aloud in January, February, March, April — the 30 other days of May — June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. If another month, another day, or any combination of them feels more fitting; if you embrace multiple mothers and mother figures, do not feel confined to the second Sunday in May.

Simple appreciation for a mother’s love is penned in the final lyrics of Angelou’s poem: “I thank you that/You still find something in me/to cherish, to admire, and to love./I thank you, Mother. I love you.”

Whenever you can, wherever you are, take a moment to remember the mothers you love or have loved, and offer a meaningful gift from your heart to hers.

Meanwhile... That Vote...

Having faith in the wisdom of our elected officials is as it should be, keeping in mind that, as our friends and neighbors, they have not only the best interests of the whole of this town at heart, but know their decisions will affect them personally. But it seems we also have unwavering faith in our fellow residents, allowing just nine out of every one hundred citizens qualified to vote to determine the spending of millions of dollars.

Less than nine percent of those who could have cast a vote at the April 27 referendum chose to do so. Why would people opt out on deciding where and when and how town money should be spent?

The few voters have decided. The municipal and education budgets for the 2021-22 year are set; money for three capital bonding authorizations has been approved: protect public safety with funding to complete emergency radio and communications upgrades, by a vote of 1,294-421; and improvements to Reed Intermediate School that address long-term benefits, with a solid vote of 1,247-472.

Even the tighter vote on nearly $4 million for a permanent memorial to 12/14 — passing just 963-748 — is determined by these few representatives .

We do not oppose the results. The municipal and education budgets were put forth in the belief that the results were for the good of the many. The spending bumps are not out of line with today’s economy and reflect the need for continued services demanded by this population.

Still, when 17,300 voters out of more than 19,000 eligible to vote decline to provide valuable input, one has to wonder if the millions of dollars approved truly reflect Newtown’s desires. Leadership is left to assume so.

It is ironic that just the previous week Newtown’s Registrars of Voters were awarded the Democracy Cup for the handling of record turnout in the 2020 national election. The national election is important and does affect each resident, but the town referendum has a much more direct affect. It is spending in which residents have some skin — and feel it, if dollars allocated exceed realistic expectations. We are fortunate that the Newtown boards were sensitive to the challenging year experienced by residents as they assessed needs and demands of each budget.

We hear of COVID fatigue: exhaustion from remote work and schooling; exhaustion from physically distancing; frustration with mask requirements, with accessing vaccinations, with those who disregard best practices… did COVID fatigue affect voters’ decisions to come out on a spectacularly gorgeous spring day? We can only wonder.

The time has passed for those who did not go to the polls to have their say. As always, town officials will continue to respond to anyone who must speak out after the fact, but the deed is done.

So here’s the plan: If referendum results were not to your liking, and if you failed to exercise your voting right, mark your calendar now for next year’s referendum; it’s your vote, for your town.