posted 05-04-2004 11:31 PM         

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer weiners 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 birt!h 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, but realize how child abuse happens.
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 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.
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.
Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.
"Home is what catches you when
you fall - and we all fall."
Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.

I got this from Roarin. Pretty good.

posted 05-05-2004 07:20 AM         

Thanks for sharing!

Upon seeing your post, I immediately emailed one to my wife and mailed a copy to my Mom and 93 year old Grandmother. Knowing them, they will appreciate this much more than a card.

Thanks again.

posted 05-05-2004 07:58 AM         

AMEN