There aren’t many news items that often make me stop and do a slow burn. That was until I read the article about Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ proposal to change the word “mother” contained within laws in his state.

The governor believes the word “mother” should be changed to “inseminated person.” Just when I thought I had heard the most ridiculous thinking out of a politician, I was wrong. This one has to take the cake.

I can’t even comprehend why the governor believes such a change makes sense. All the good gent has to do is consult Webster’s dictionary and he will find the definition of mother. It states that mother refers to a woman’s relation to her child or children.

While that is a simple and straightforward definition, I would like to expand on it. In my 40 years in the field of journalism, I met hundreds of mothers. And in reality, not every mother I had the pleasure to meet actually gave birth to her child or children.

Some of the sweetest moms I know are mothers who, along with their spouses, adopted a child or children. I would challenge anyone to not consider them mothers. They are worthy of their parental status in the deepest sense of the word.

I know grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren due to unfortunate circumstances and/or tragedies. Those young children only know these women as their moms.

Can you imagine the reaction of the folks at the Hallmark greeting card company upon hearing how Governor Evers wants to change the term for mother? Mother’s Day is one of the largest days of the year for the sale of greeting cards. Changing the wording for mother would have a devastating effect on the industry.

The same would be true for the florist business.

Then I read how the West Virginia Legislature is considering state laws to formally define “female” and “male.” I’m not sure why this is needed when common sense should be the law. I do understand why they want to change the term “pregnant person” to “pregnant woman.” That, too, just makes sense.

I’m not sure where all this talk is going, but I will rely on each of us to determine who we will call “mother.” I don’t think we need politicians to rewrite history.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.