and her children shall rise up and call her blessed....

My mother- in -law sent this to me and it touched my heart. Hope it does the same for you:

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

Who 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 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.

And, 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 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 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 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 ~or have their own families.

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 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 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. 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, and never stop being a mom.

“Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall.”
***************************************************

I spent the greater part of this morning in the emergency room with James after a referral by the Primary Health doctor. Saturday, he took a tumble off the swing. 2 year olds tend to fall down and fall off of things a lot, and this spill didn't seem any worse than others he's taken. I gave him some magic mommy loves and kisses and he seemed better. A few hours later he started to throw up. I thought it was just a virus. He was lethargic on Sunday, but we went to church for Mother's Day anyway. Sunday evening, he wouldn't leave my lap. He dry heaved several times, was sensitive to light, and was having a hard time opening his eyes. I continued to think it was just a virus. After a restless night, and when he didn't seem much better this morning-- I went to have him looked at. Following a CT scan (which he was an angel for! Thank goodness!--I told him a big donut was taking his picture, and he thought that was funny!), I learned he had a concussion. Not so bad as to have to be admitted, but bad enough that I'll have to keep a close eye on him for the next several days.

I can't tell you how many times I had to delete the word "we" from the paragraph above and change it to "I". Brad was very concerned for James, and was here this evening to check on him and hug him up good. But then he left. And I was on my own again. And it really is my duty now to take care of these boys full time. To be the "mom". And while I'd rather still be half of a loving, committed parenting team-- I continue in my gratitude that the title of mother is one that can never be taken from me. I'm sure you are too!

Happy Belated Mothers Day to all of you!!!