Our family has a friend who’s roots trace back to Slovakia, a small country between Poland and Hungary. He is a tall, burly, patient & gentle soul, with light brown hair, blue eyes, a big “handlebar” moustache and a hearty laugh.

He once told us of a “custom” that is worth repeating here. Each year on his birthday he would buy a small gift for his mother as a token of his appreciation for her hard work of giving birth & raising him. It impressed me so much because in North America we practically expect gifts on our birthday and my friend is happy to acknowledge that his life is a “gift”. Sadly, his mother passed away a few years ago, but what a beautiful way to honour her life "as woman,....as mother”!