Karrie's Box of Thoughts

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Happy Mother's Day

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with

sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with

Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's

okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end

soothing 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 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 the mothers whose priceless art

collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal

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 in

the grocery store and swat them in despair when they

stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before

dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten

instead.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their

children and explained all about making babies. And

for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just

couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their

children can eat.

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 theirshoelaces 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 every mother whose head turns

automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a

crowd, even though they know their own offspring are

at home -- or even away at college.

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.

This is for all the step-mothers 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 they

bleed 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 mothers who

sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their

child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children

to 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 se w 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. to put 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 from wherever you are and hug your

child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a

child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our

thoughts are 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. 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.

As told by moi2:38 PM ...