Happy Mothers Day

A mother is a walking hotel for the first nine months of a child’s life; complete with 24/7 room service and hot tub. She has a special guest who will dictate what mom eats and wears, when to go to the bathroom and how much sleep she gets.

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Mothers and fathers are both very important to the future of a child. Mothers and fathers are DIFFERENT. It is awesome that fathers have expanded their roles in child care. They need to know the joy of changing a diaper full of toxic waste and the rewards of sleep deprivation. However, I don’t think that any of us can truly understand the connection between mother and child. It is not part of our gender identity.

I was always amazed at my wife’s reaction to the blessed event. After what she gently described as passing a watermelon, she would embrace this gooey mess and declare it beautiful. I would look at my child and be filled with love but also observe that babies are usually not adorable; their looks are a combination of a spider monkey and Mr. Magoo. Our second born, while being passed to her, peed on her and her only reaction was to smile and say “Oh good, the plumbing works.” That is not a reaction that is programmed into the male psyche.

The mother is the one who will wake up in anticipation of a baby squeak while the father will slumber on. The mother is the only one who will instinctively deal with the child’s bodily functions with love and concern; father’s tend to want to just hose the kid off. Mom provides emotional stability to the family, encouragement, acceptance, and socks that match the outfit.

Motherhood doesn’t end when the child moves out, it is an identity that never weakens but grows stronger as the years pass. I am blessed by being married to a wonderful mother and Nana. I am in awe of the mother’s in my family, Paula, Alice, and Maria (newest member of the club). They have made tremendous personal sacrifices for the love of their children and family. Instead of trying to have it all, they give their all. Flowers wilt, cards get recycled, and the special meal gets digested, but appreciation is the gift that keeps on giving. So, make this Mothers Day special by making it more frequent. Take time to make that phone call to see how her day is going or to say thanks. Let her talk first about her frustrations and really listen! Take the kids for a walk, do the laundry and find a way to make her life easier. Most importantly, realize her importance and be grateful.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!