Value of Mothering

How sad to read that Mrs. Byrna Slater in “A Link to the Pioneer Past at 92” (by Jean Bennett, May 12) had regrets about her life! “In other circumstances,” she said, “in other times, I could have made something of myself.”

I, who struggle to raise four children, know only too well what an accomplishment it is to raise eight children into responsible adults.

But our society places little value on mothering. Even your newspaper, on Mother’s Day, chose to highlight on the front page of View two women who combine mothering and a career rather than giving recognition to those women who feel parenting is a job that demands more than part-time attention.

If your newspaper gave full-time mothers the recognition they deserve on their one special day of the year, perhaps a woman who raised eight children under difficult circumstances might feel that her life was as full, if not fuller, than the woman who works as manager of her office or who sells more than any other person in her firm or does whatever else marks success in our capitalistic society.

ANN WHITFORD PAUL

Los Angeles