Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Happy Mothers Day

*This was too good not to share*

Mothers If you send this to just one person, it should makeit all the way around the world by Mother's Day. This is for the mothers who have sat up all nightwith sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayerwieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's all right honey, Mommy's here." Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on endsoothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers intheir purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and makecookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T. This is for the mothers who gave birth to babiesthey'll never see. And the mothers who took those ba bies a nd gave themhomes. And for the mothers who lost their baby in that precious 9months that they will never get to watch grow on earth but one day will bereunited with in Heaven! This is for the mothers whose priceless artcollections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns onmetal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you
see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it. This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids inthe grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feetand scream for ice cream before dinner.
And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens. This is for all the mothers who sat down with theirchildren and explained all about making babies.
And for all the mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words. This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so theirchildren can eat.
For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon"twice a night for a year.
And then read it again. "Just one moretime." This is for all the mothers who taught theirchildren to tie their shoelaces before they started school.
And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons tocook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. This is for every mother whose head turnsautomatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they knowtheir own offspring are at home -- or even away at college. This is for all the mothers who sent their kids toschool with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up, Right away. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,who can't find the words to reach them. This is for all the stepmothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated! For all the mothers who bite their lips until theybleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green. For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the motherswho sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who justcame home from school, safely. This is for all the mothers who taught their childrento be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war. What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart?Is it the ache you feel when you watch your
son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. toput your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later,that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to
hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee fromwherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a caraccident, a child dying? The emotions of motherhood are universal and so ourthoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes andsleep deprivation.....And mature mothers learning to letgo. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for you all. For all of us. Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray. Please pass along to all the Moms in your life. "Home is what catches you when you fall--and we all fall."

4 comments:

Hol said...

Very nice, thank you.

Shauna Loves Chocolate said...

I got that e-mail last year. Yes, it's a great one to share!

Special K ~Toni said...

That was great! Thanks for sharing!

Dallas Meow said...

as long as we're living... mommies we'll be