HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This is for all the mothers who

Have sat in rocking chairs or paced the floor, for hours on end "trying" to soothe a crying baby, who just can't be comforted.

Have sat up all night with sick children in their arms, wiping up barf, laced with hot dogs, candy and a cherry slurpee. While reassuring them it's okay, because Mommy's here. Sometimes you even get to re-visit this scene years later, when your child is older, without the hot dogs and candy part, when one of your children now grown, about seven months away from being a Mommy herself, so pale, so sick, then yep, cherry slurpee all the way up your stairs, while you rub her back and tell her it's okay, Mom's here.

Have lovingly applied more band aids, ice, heat, & spray disinfectant, then Florence Nightingale, seen more than their fair share of cuts, scratches, bruises, slivers, black eyes and bumps on the head. Rushed to the E.R. staying reasonably calm, until the second you are out of your childs view, then you break down, because you think you should always be able to protect your child from anything bad ever happening to them. We sometimes feel as though we should be given an honorary nursing degree from some college.

Find them selfs out in public with spit-up on their clothes, a baby in their arms while chasing a toddler either counting to three, or saying "I'm not kidding, you better . . . . ". Mother's who find their self yelling at their kids in the grocery store, or give a swat on the tush in despair because they are stomping their feet in the isle throwing an oscar winning tantrum. (Most times this is the child, not the mother). Or the mother's who instead choose to count to ten, gain their own composer, then quickly head for the nearest exit of the store, leaving behind their cart full of all the things they needed to buy.

Drive a carpool, bake cookies, sew, put little love notes in lunch sacks, help finish a school project the night before it's due, volunteer at school, make halloween costumes, have priceless art work hanging all over the refrigerator, reads Horton hears a who three times every night at bed time, then reads it one more time after hearing that sweet little voice saying "read it one more time, please mommy", are at every soccer game, baseball practice, dance class, and school performance, in rain, the heat, cold or snow, even when sick, who proudly yell to the point of embarrassing their child. All the while telling their child they wouldn't miss it for the world, and truly mean it. Go out and skateboard with their son's, play dress up with their daughters. Play endless hours of hide-n-seek, ring around the rosies and tag.

Can fix dinner with a baby on their hip, a toddler at their feet, helping another one with their homework, diverting the fight over the x-box game, talk on the phone, and put the barking dog outside because somehow you seem to be the only one who hears him. Most nights you still manage to get dinner on the table at a reasonable hour, with most of your sanity and sit down and enjoy it together as a family. Or, for the mother's who just had to give up, after tripping over the toddler at your feet for the umptenth time, sat the crying baby down to physically referee the fight at the x-box, while meantime in the kitchen dinner boils over on top of the stove, setting the smoke detector off into a screach, which starts all the children screaming, crying and fleeing to get away from the noise, you calmly pick up the phone and order pizza. Or, for those mother's who go hungry, so that their children don't have to.

Choose to leave the dishes undone or the laundry, and instead sit down to cuddle their little one, or help build the most awesome lego city ever, or load up the kids and head to the beach for the day, because you know they won't be little forever, and these chances will become less and less throughout the years.

Teach their children to be strong and independent, even though they know someday that means they will take a less active role in their childs life. Teach their son's how to cook, teach their daughters to play sports, teach their son's how to make a goal, teach their daughters to love dress up. Teach their children love, patience, compassion, self confidence, and how awesome Daddy is.

Bite their lips when their 14 yr. old son wants to get a mohawk, when their 12 yr. old daughter wants to start wearing make up, of course both are followed by, "But mom, everyone else my age is doing it".

Are terrified and excited when their child attends their first day at school, gets their drivers license, goes on their first date, graduates high school, goes away to college, moves out of the house, or announces their engagement. (Only a mother can understand, how each wonderful milestone of their childs life can bring such joy and fear all at the same time).

The excitement and joy that consumes you when you hear "Grandma" for the first time, and then each and every time after that through the years.

Were there for that first heart break, every dissapointment, who cried their self to sleep at nights because they knew they aren't always able to protect their child from everything this world throws at them. Worry how they will be able to provide for their child when money is tight. Fear, that if their child needs medical attention they can't afford it. Have to be humble enough to "ask" for help, on any level. Worry if they are doing enough, worry if they are doing the best they can, worry they are totally screwing their child up for life.

No matter what stage of being a mother you're at; two o'clock in the morning and you're awake worried because the baby hasn't woke up yet, on their first night of sleeping through the night, so you sneak into their room just to check on them and make sure they are alright, or two o'clock in the morning and you're awake worried because you didn't hear them come home, so you sneak into their room just to check on them and make sure they are alright. Mothers who's heart drops when they hear there was a school bus accident on the same route as their child, or the Mother who see's a car accident involving a white truck and immediately calls to make sure her child who drives a white truck is safe. All the Mother's whose head automatically turns to look when they hear a voice call out "Mom", in a crowd.

Gave birth to a baby, who they would never see again or have the joy of raising, because they loved them to much. For the mother's who took those babies into their homes to love and raise as their own.

Support and understand the struggles and joys other Mothers are going through. To all the many different types of Mothers, with different mothering styles and techniques. We all belong to this wonderful exhausting and rewarding club called Motherhood.


The emotions of motherhood are universal, from the young mother stumbling through diaper changes, feedings and sleep deprivation, or the mature mother learning to let go. From working mothers to stay-at-home mothers. Married mothers or Single mothers. Mothers with money and mothers without. Mothers who were born to be, and mothers who feel terribly inadequate.

To all of the wonderful examples of truly great Mother's in my life, who all have different mothering styles, yet all exemplify unconditional love and support for their children. Who aren't perfect, but never stop trying to be. I want you to know this Mother's Day, how much I love each and everyone of you, how thankful I am for your examples, and how my life has been enriched by you being a part of it.

To all three of my children, I feel so blessed and honored to have been given the awesome job of being your Mother. My two beautiful Daughters who have such unique mothering styles, I get such joy watching you be Mommies, it is such a thrill to see you now as Mom's, I am so greatful for you both, you continually amaze me, I love you. My fun loving Mother who taught me so much, even when she didn't know she was, who put up with my picky eating habits, who taught me that family is the most important thing in life, who was always around to take care of me, and still does. My fantastic Sister who is one of the most loving, giving people I know, you know how to work hard and play hard, you embody Live, Laugh, Love, I am forever greatful for you being a part of my life. My Mother-in-law who brought such a sense of Family and love with a wonderful sense of humor into the family. My Nana, and My Grandmother, two of the classiest women I know. My Daughter-in-law, My Aunts, My Sister-in-Laws, my Nieces, my Friends. All the youth leaders I had during my lifetime, to all the Women who have touched my life and left a hand print on my heart.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !