Mothers, Stories, and the Gift Economy

Posted by Jerrie on May 9, 2012 in Family Stories, Mother's Day, Storytelling, Why Stories? | 0 comments

Opened my email this morning and found several suggestions for remembering Mother’s Day–flowers (of course), a BOSE Radio, AirRibs, Godiva chocolates, a Mother’s Wisdom deck of cards (not sure what that is exactly), an Audiobook, and some kind of solar powered dancing flower knickknack. Not going there.

With the recession, supporting the consumer economy is not a bad idea. However, I don’t think we talk enough about the gift economy–the things that increase only when we give them away. Love is the obvious example. Stories only exist when we share them. Stories are my favorite example–the theme of this blog. Tell mom a good one. That reminds me, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten the full story of how my son wrecked the car when he was in high school . . . Hint. Hint.

Here’s the real point: Mothers epitomize the gift economy–the hours and hours of care and concern, the unselfish sacrifices, the list goes on and on for years and years, which is why solar-powered dancing flower thingies are particularly inappropriate by comparison.

What’s given in the gift economy is best acknowledged similarly–a visit, a phone call, a photo, a story . . .