Happy Mother's Day!!

Mothers   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 alright 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.  And for the mothers who lost  their baby in that precious 9 months that they will never get to watch  grow on earth but one day will be reunited with in  Heaven!   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 (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.   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 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.