I feel lucky that we’ve dedicated The Weekly to Mother’s Day (and the double header of my Mom’s birthday), for the past six years. I feel even luckier that I’ve been able to take my Mom on a few lifetime trips since then, too. It can be complicated, but at this time of year, there are no excuses. Call your Mom.

An Update On Flights In The Middle East

Before we get to Mom, let’s talk flights. I was recently in Rwanda and Tanzania with my favorite safari lodges in the world, Singita. I almost didn’t make this trip because of the turmoil in the Middle East. However, if you’re in the same position, traveling to Africa this summer and on a Qatar or Emirates flight, now or the next few weeks is the time to re-route. No one has a crystal ball into what will happen with Iran. But, from a planning standpoint, I think it’s too close to summer to not have your backup plan implemented. Also, a number of airlines are making that choice for you and rerouting flights. I am happy to report that Swissair, Lufthansa, British Airways and KLM have good flight connections to Africa. It may not be a Q-Suite, but your summer plans are game on, as they should be.

A Happy Place

Singita lodges are the rare places that allow you to disconnect from the world and focus on what’s important in life. “Important” is defined differently for everyone, of course. It could be a connection with nature, people, communities, loved ones, or all of the above. Africa is a special place, where the everyday trials and tribulations often look trivial with the backdrop of a pride of lions against the vast African savanna. I get my clearest thinking and inspiration when I’m in Africa. It’s this perspective that carries into my everyday life in New York. I’m reminded that many of the basic principles of nature apply even in a concrete jungle.

This trip hit a different note with Singita. I’ve been to Tanzania many times to climb Kilimanjaro, volunteer in rural communities and safari in both the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. With Singita though, it made me realize that I hadn’t really experienced Tanzania until this trip. If you have a chance, Singita is a place that could change your life. Or at least deepen your appreciation of it.

Mother by Nature

I think that if I wasn’t an entrepreneur, I would be an anthropologist or at least a psychologist, as people fascinate me. Maybe that’s why I love safari so much. We share 98% of our DNA with gorillas, so watching animals in the wild is not so different from understanding humans. There is one common denominator across the animal kingdom, and it’s the relationship of mother and child. Yes, fathers are also essential and fill their purpose, However, by nature, there are only something like two species where the father forms a deep connection to his babies from birth. Instead, it often takes until the children are older for fathers to form a bond. With mothers though, that bond where she would die for her child innately exists across almost all species. We all know that Mom would go postal if anyone were to hurt you. The nurturing and protective instinct is one that is unique to a mother.

That deep love in humans that a mother almost always can’t deny her children by their mere existence is just one of the reasons why Moms deserve their day. So, as usual, we have the ideas to honor Mom, whether it’s a brunch, a getaway, or heck stem cell rejuvenation. Because Mom’s worth it. Whether you’re a Mom, Godmom, honorary Mom, or Mom-at-Large, today we honor you, and all you do. The world is a better place with mothers in it.

All the best,

Christine Drinan, Founder