Mother's Day may have been created by Hallmark, but it's still a great day to celebrate the many different kinds of mothers that exist in so many of our worlds. I like to think of it as a true women's holiday above all, so I'd like to send out my wishes to all the many mothers out there that I have known and even been at times......
Happy Mother's Day to the new mom. You doubt yourself every day and you never knew you could be so tired. You also never knew you could be so in love. Don't be afraid to ask for help and admit when you just don't know. And one day, believe it or not, you'll be one of the old hats doling out advice!
And to the expectant mom. You literally carry the future and promise of tomorrow, and we all look to you with renewed optimism. We love to pamper you, give you advice and reminisce about our own time with pregnancy. Enjoy this brief moment as scary and uncomfortable as it may be at times. You will look back on it with a loving sentimentality in years to come.
And lest we forget the grandmothers. Their advice and patience is something we never knew was so valuable when we were first starting out. I have often found myself saying "my Maw-Maw always said" more and more the older I get.
And also the special aunties. You may not have technically given birth, but believe me, many kids will think of you today. You are the fount of advice when mom just didn't understand and will very probably take many kids to their first concerts and maybe even bail some out of jail!
And Happy Mother's Day to the mothers-in-law. You don't always have an easy job. Especially with an independent daughter-in-law like me. But we're actually listening to you more than you think, and we love you for the partner you gave us in life. And not for nothing, the story of Ruth and Naomi is a pretty good one!
And the special needs moms. We will never know why we were chosen, but we were. We do our best. Sometimes we triumph and sometimes we fail. Our reward is different from others, but it's usually much more resounding.
And Happy Mother's Day to the step-mothers. You hold together a delicate balance that not all women can carry. With grace and humility, you can create an unbreakable extended family.
And I also note the midwives and nurses. You bring life into the world and hold a certain knowledge that men in the same position just can't grasp. It's some kind of evolutionary instinct that awes anyone fortunate enough to experience or watch a birth.
And to the grieving moms. Your loss will teach others. And it's not fair. And it's okay to say so.
As well as teachers and care providers. You are the mothers away from home. We trust you with so much and hold you more closely in our hearts than you even realize.
Happy Mother's Day to the very young moms. You got there earlier than a lot of us, and you have some stories to tell. Your perseverance is a wonder.
And to the moms struggling to be moms. You're waiting for the adoption to go through or the fertility treatments to work. You're getting there. Don't lose heart. You were called for something bigger than even you understand yet.
And the working moms. You make it look so easy, but we know it's not. You invented multitasking. You have to take a lot of guff sometimes, undeservedly. You are lighting the way for your daughters and sons. Never forget that.
And the stay-at-home moms. You never get a day off. And it's not all soap operas and afternoon naps. It's the world's oldest and toughest profession, and your performance review may not come in for many years. But it will so be worth it years from now. Trust me.
To the breastfeeding moms! To the bottle moms!
To the soccer, karate, hockey and chess club moms!
To the organic moms! And the microwave mac n cheese moms!
To the up-all-night-with-a-sick-kid moms!
To the sleep-in on Sunday moms!
To the super moms!
To the I'm-finding-my-way moms!
To the always prepared and never ready moms!
To the Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and Girls on the Run moms!
To the rocking chair, lap-reading moms!
To the Zumba moms! The yoga moms!
To the Facebook and Pinterest moms!
To the stroller moms! And the marsupial moms! And the what-the-hell-is-that? moms!
Happy Mother's Day.....to all the women. Let us all love each other. Support each other. Offer advice. Offer a shoulder. Stop criticizing. Stop deflating. Stop comparing. Stop judging. Let's love the mother we were given. Let's try to be the best one we can be. Let's not lose sight of our goal and to always remember Motherhood is a marathon, not a race. Some days you're ahead of the pack and some days you've fallen off the road. But we always keep going. Running, walking, jogging or limping. Because that's what mothers do.
(Inspired by all the great mothers I know. Especially my mom, Lynn and my sister, Christie as well as Angela, Barbara, Joanna, Darlene, Chrys, Ann, Belinda, Wendi, Jennifer, Laura, Jamie, Linda, Tammy, Sage, Pam, Rachel, Caroline, Linda, Brenda, Judy, Jenni, Tracie, Teri, Bonnie, Kelly, Debbie, Beth, Hope, Jenny, and many more. And most especially, Erica, who waits on the cusp of delivery of this magical moment.)
Happy Mother's Day to the new mom. You doubt yourself every day and you never knew you could be so tired. You also never knew you could be so in love. Don't be afraid to ask for help and admit when you just don't know. And one day, believe it or not, you'll be one of the old hats doling out advice!
And to the expectant mom. You literally carry the future and promise of tomorrow, and we all look to you with renewed optimism. We love to pamper you, give you advice and reminisce about our own time with pregnancy. Enjoy this brief moment as scary and uncomfortable as it may be at times. You will look back on it with a loving sentimentality in years to come.
And lest we forget the grandmothers. Their advice and patience is something we never knew was so valuable when we were first starting out. I have often found myself saying "my Maw-Maw always said" more and more the older I get.
And also the special aunties. You may not have technically given birth, but believe me, many kids will think of you today. You are the fount of advice when mom just didn't understand and will very probably take many kids to their first concerts and maybe even bail some out of jail!
And Happy Mother's Day to the mothers-in-law. You don't always have an easy job. Especially with an independent daughter-in-law like me. But we're actually listening to you more than you think, and we love you for the partner you gave us in life. And not for nothing, the story of Ruth and Naomi is a pretty good one!
And the special needs moms. We will never know why we were chosen, but we were. We do our best. Sometimes we triumph and sometimes we fail. Our reward is different from others, but it's usually much more resounding.
And Happy Mother's Day to the step-mothers. You hold together a delicate balance that not all women can carry. With grace and humility, you can create an unbreakable extended family.
And I also note the midwives and nurses. You bring life into the world and hold a certain knowledge that men in the same position just can't grasp. It's some kind of evolutionary instinct that awes anyone fortunate enough to experience or watch a birth.
And to the grieving moms. Your loss will teach others. And it's not fair. And it's okay to say so.
As well as teachers and care providers. You are the mothers away from home. We trust you with so much and hold you more closely in our hearts than you even realize.
Happy Mother's Day to the very young moms. You got there earlier than a lot of us, and you have some stories to tell. Your perseverance is a wonder.
And to the moms struggling to be moms. You're waiting for the adoption to go through or the fertility treatments to work. You're getting there. Don't lose heart. You were called for something bigger than even you understand yet.
And the working moms. You make it look so easy, but we know it's not. You invented multitasking. You have to take a lot of guff sometimes, undeservedly. You are lighting the way for your daughters and sons. Never forget that.
And the stay-at-home moms. You never get a day off. And it's not all soap operas and afternoon naps. It's the world's oldest and toughest profession, and your performance review may not come in for many years. But it will so be worth it years from now. Trust me.
To the breastfeeding moms! To the bottle moms!
To the soccer, karate, hockey and chess club moms!
To the organic moms! And the microwave mac n cheese moms!
To the up-all-night-with-a-sick-kid moms!
To the sleep-in on Sunday moms!
To the super moms!
To the I'm-finding-my-way moms!
To the always prepared and never ready moms!
To the Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and Girls on the Run moms!
To the rocking chair, lap-reading moms!
To the Zumba moms! The yoga moms!
To the Facebook and Pinterest moms!
To the stroller moms! And the marsupial moms! And the what-the-hell-is-that? moms!
Happy Mother's Day.....to all the women. Let us all love each other. Support each other. Offer advice. Offer a shoulder. Stop criticizing. Stop deflating. Stop comparing. Stop judging. Let's love the mother we were given. Let's try to be the best one we can be. Let's not lose sight of our goal and to always remember Motherhood is a marathon, not a race. Some days you're ahead of the pack and some days you've fallen off the road. But we always keep going. Running, walking, jogging or limping. Because that's what mothers do.
(Inspired by all the great mothers I know. Especially my mom, Lynn and my sister, Christie as well as Angela, Barbara, Joanna, Darlene, Chrys, Ann, Belinda, Wendi, Jennifer, Laura, Jamie, Linda, Tammy, Sage, Pam, Rachel, Caroline, Linda, Brenda, Judy, Jenni, Tracie, Teri, Bonnie, Kelly, Debbie, Beth, Hope, Jenny, and many more. And most especially, Erica, who waits on the cusp of delivery of this magical moment.)
Comments