Posted by Tribes on May 07, 2004 at 12:00:16:
FOR ALL you MOMS OUT THERE!!!!
This is for 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 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, 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 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 --- or even grown. 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 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 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."
There are more important things then diving.