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Mothers' Days Filled With Complex Decisions

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By SUSAN M. GREEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara: "Why, a cat's a better mother than you are."

Obviously meant as a slap at Scarlett, this line from "Gone With the Wind" bears more than a hint of insult for the maternal feline. But the truth is, mother cats are pretty much like their human counterparts: Many, if not most, dedicate themselves to nourishing, nurturing, defending and otherwise doing their best to ensure their kittens grow up to be the very best cats they can be.

In the case of cats, most of us credit maternal instinct as the source of top-notch parenting.

Today's human mom needs a lot more than instinct to navigate a complex world that often includes juggling a full-time job with raising a family. Important decisions loom day by day, minute by minute, even before the baby is born.

Some are longstanding: Should you name your baby after your favorite movie or book character or pick something easier to spell? Should you let Johnny quit the team? Should you make Gloria take higher math? Should you trust one of her teenage friends to drive her to Taco Bell? Just how well do you know the family that asked your child to spend the night?

Others are relatively new: How do you find a good voluntary pre-K program? Should you shell out hard-earned money for tutoring for the FCAT or college entrance exams? Should you push your kid to take AP high school courses? What about cell phones, CD players and Internet access?

Then there are the mixed feelings as Junior learns to drive, gets a part-time job, chooses a college, grows up and moves away.

Here are some stories from 21st century mothers in South Hillsborough.

Trust me, Rhett, Mama Cat never had to think this hard.

STORIES ON PAGES 12-15

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