Daily Dirt: It’s doubtful whether Mary Cotton ever received a hug on Mother’s Day

If your mom is still with you today, make sure you give her a hug … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 279 of The Daily Dirt.

1. There’s always a side to Mother’s Day that warrants a chuckle or two.

While we all hold those dear and cherished memories of our moms close to our hearts, let’s not forget real life is more than holiday greeting cards.

I think the following medal-worthy comments capture Mother’s Day in its truest down-to-earth sense:

1. Gold medal: “It’s not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.” — actress Bea Arthur, who portrayed Dorothy on “The Golden Girls”.
2. Silver medal: “Ah, babies! They’re more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.” —  entertainer Tina Fey.
3. Bronze medal: “Like all parents, my husband and I just do the best we can, hold our breath, and hope we’ve set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” — actress Michelle Pfeiffer.

2. Unfortunately, not all moms are medal-winners.

Here’s our pick for the worst overall mother of the last 150 years: Mary Cotton, West Auckland, England. The 19th century serial killer, who ironically was a nurse, poisoned and killed 11 of her 13 children using arsenic. She also got rid of all of four of her husbands, two boyfriends and two other random people. Law enforcement finally caught up with her in 1872. 

3. There is one song in particular that might be fitting to play today: “Let It Be” by the Beatles.

Here’s why: Paul McCartney’s line about “Mother Mary” in “Let It Be” has always had plenty of religious connotations. For years, Beatles fans interpreted this as a reference to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. McCartney later explained, however, the reference was more literal.

“He had felt the comfort of his own mother, Mary Mohin McCartney, who had succumbed to breast cancer when he was just 14 years old,” wrote Jordan Runtagh in 2017 on aletia.org.

Here are “Let It Be” lyrics in question: “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, Speaking words of wisdom, Let it be … “

Steve Thought O’ The Day — My mom passed close to 20 years ago, but there is never a day I don’t think about her. I hope you have those same kind of memories.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News, where we wish all moms a Happy Mothers Day.