Superintendent's Comments
Mother's Day is this Sunday. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the
hardworking, devoted moms. As a tribute to my Mom and for the all of the
"mean" moms in our community, I would like to share the following poem.
There are many versions available. This particular one hung in the Lawler
kitchen as we grew up.
The Meanest Mother in the World!
We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we
were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what
we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone
for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child
Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the
beds, learn to cook, vacuum the
floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think
she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds
and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up.
They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. Because of our
mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of
us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever
arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are
doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that is
what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
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My Mom passed away recently after battling health issues for several years. I wish to thank all of the people who expressed their condolences, sent flowers or made a donation in her honor. Your thoughtfulness is truly appreciated by the Lawler family.
Daniel M. Lawler, Ed.D
Superintendent
Southwest Local School District
230 South Elm Street
Harrison, Ohio 45030
513-367-4139