Statement

First Lady Melania Trump: Mothers are America’s strengthWomen can lead boldly at work while restoring the honor of motherhood

A mother’s devotion to her child is unmatched. This love takes many forms: strength, compassion, wisdom, grace, joy, labor, humor and even grief, to name a few. The love between mother and child has helped shape America’s identity since the nation’s founding 250 years ago.

It is time to revisit the enduring American family traditions that have supported generations, while also recognizing the challenges for mothers of building both a career and a home. This balancing act reflects the realities women face today.

America’s strength is closely tied to the role mothers play in shaping character, education and moral order within families. From morning until night, mothers serve as the first teachers of empathy, aspiration and discipline. It is mothers who do so much to shape a child’s mind — how to think, how to distinguish right from wrong and how to persevere in challenging times.

The household is our nation’s smallest institution, yet it is the foundation of all others, including democracy itself. The values cultivated in homes often shape the moral voice of the next generation. Looking ahead, we must consider how to strengthen this vital role.

Being a modern mother demands the discipline and restraint to not disregard what came before us. In this spirit, the healthy evolution of the American family can best be achieved by preserving the elements of the past that have proven their worth. In doing so, America can restore the honor of motherhood after years in which feminism often placed career above family, with consequences to our nation.

Yes, women can thrive in both motherhood and business. But let’s be honest, extended families and strong support systems are often essential to providing a solid base for success. That’s why I admire the strength and dedication of single mothers in America, who often handle these responsibilities alone.

I note, too, that May is National Foster Care Month. Across America, tens of thousands of foster mothers selflessly provide safety and stability when it is needed most. Often, these moments create powerful bonds that can alter a child’s trajectory and even lead to a permanent home through adoption, changing lives forever.