for the mamas

I am one of those extremely fortunate women who have so many incredible examples of motherhood to emulate and to aspire to. In friends, in aunts, in grandmothers passed, and of course, and most especially, my mom.

this one is entitled "piggy face and her grandmother" (with LOTR photobomb)

That pic right there, that is an excellent example of why my mom is so great. She has never been self conscious about getting down into the thick of childish play for the sake of showing her kids (and now grandkids) a good time, or even for a reluctant teenage giggle. She throws herself wholeheartedly into our world: our triumphs, our problems, our trivialities, our joys, all of it. 

This weekend she was up at my parents' cabin with just my youngest sister. Just the two of them, enjoying a mother-daughter weekend together. Since I can remember, she has made an effort to see and hear each of her children individually. She has EIGHT. But we all had our "special nights" with mom where one of us was allowed to stay up late; little lunch dates; private talks.

So Mothers Day, yeah it may have been created by the greeting card industry or born out of some attempt to market mass quantities of bouquets or spa certificates. But it's a solid reminder to tell the woman who is certainly one of the most influential - if not the most - how much she means, how much she counts. Now that I am in the trenches of motherhood (you know, if being pregnant with your second counts as "trenches"), I know a little affirmation goes a long way. This mothering thing, it's been the most important and the most fulfilling and the most difficult thing I've done. Having done it, I can see just how high the bar has been set by the women in my life.

Cheers to you all, ladies. Mothers and mothers-to-be alike. It's a fascinating and miraculous thing, this motherhood.

And I'm just loving the ride.

Happy Day, Mothers.