This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up throw-up laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here."

Who walk around the house all night with their babies when they keep crying and won't stop.

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 in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for all the mothers who froze their buns off on metal bleachers at football or soccer games Friday night instead of watching from cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn't.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children 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 to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own off spring are at home.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school 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.

For all the mothers who bite their lips sometimes until they bleed - when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience?
Compassion?
Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew
button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it 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. to put your hand on the back of sleeping baby?

The need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

For all the mothers of the victims of all these school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for mothers who put pinwheels and teddy bears on their children's graves.

This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation.

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

[ May 07, 2003, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: lionspaaw ]

Lionspaw, thanks so much for sharing. I don't know if it is because my son is leaving for college in August or not, but I am sitting here teary-eyed.

My favorite was:
For all the mothers who gave birth to babies they never see. Two of my children are adopted and I always think of their selfless birth mothers who have no idea how their children look, act, feel, love. They have no idea of the gift they have given my husband and me.

I also thought of you because I'm sure Mother's Day is bitter-sweet for you because you have buried a child. Something beyond my imagination. I am amazed at the courage and strength it must have taken for you to post about mothers. Of all the women in the forum, you are the one to post about moms. How moving! You will be on my mind and in my prayers this weekend.

Mother's Day is also bitter sweet for me since my mom died. Life is full of changes and by the grace of God we carry on!

wow that was one of the most touching things ive ever read.I am also teary eyed.I wish you a happy mothers day because God knows you deserve it..

(((( thank you ladies ))))

i was sitting here this morning so teary and down that i even missed work -- just couldn't even look at something without the tears welling up --
so i went out in my garden and worked with my plants (that i've been neglecting since i started working full time) -- and i thought to myself that THIS was what life was all about -- the soil and sun and the lizard living in my hanging plant -- and i started to feel better --

and then my precious little grandbaby stopped by -- with her mom and dad -- and my whole world is perfect once again

i miss my robert -- sometimes so much i just want to crawl up and blow away -- but the Lord took my son home -- where he suffers no more -- and gave me -- through the wonderful son i still have and the sweet (patient) lady he chose to spend his life with -- a perfect healthy little girl to cherish now

so many women will be sad and lonely inside in the next few days -- all have a story -- and all are just as heart wrenching to them as my story is to me -- there is no gauge to sorrow -- but

life hands us troubles to make us strong -- and hands us wonders in triple to keep us going

so -- if you can remember -- sometimes you're the windshield -- and sometimes you're the bug

you can get through anything

bless you ladies -- and this forum

[ May 08, 2003, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: lionspaaw ]