Happy Mother's Day

I am going to break one of my rules today. I am going to post something extremely personal and I will name my children in it. I do this because I want this to transcend time and computer failure... So here it is...

Love, kindness, security, devotion, support, nurturing, responsibility, understanding, courage, and affection are but the tip of what it takes to describe the word mother. When you think of your mother the floodgates open and emotions and memories consume you instantly. I can think of only one other word that may have that type of might when it comes to invoking such feelings and that is wife. Luckily for me this person is one in the same, which makes the word even more powerful - Mother.


You gave me the single best gift that I have ever known, your love. Then you gave me a family. Elliot with his iron will and raw pure heart, and Owen with his sweetness and innocence, all the while you steer them silently to become the best little men that they can be. I know they will forever seek your sheltering love and when it is their time they will seek someone like you. You are a mother and you know the encompassing life that your mother lived to give you the life you have now. There is nothing that will give you greater understanding than being and doing what you are trying to describe.


Kindness, you display this second by second, with your patience and gentle touch. Security, there is no other word that a child cries when they are hurt or feels threatened other than Mama, regardless of how big or strong their fathers are, they will always seek the shelter of their mother. Devotion, this dedication became as secondary as breathing as soon as you heard those little baby boys cry for the first time. Support, often coupled with patience, you teach and guide with a slow and steady heart always giving the pat of conformation and corrective hand when needed. Nurturing, subtly passing on wisdom through love and kindness, all while providing for their every little need, and making sure that their tracks are headed in the right direction. Responsibility is by far the largest and most underestimated characteristic that you own. From the first beat of their hearts to the first breath they took, you are on call, to be there every second of every hour of every day until the end. Understanding, a mother’s understanding is like the crystal ball of life. You see the actions they are taking and while you let them take their own paths while nurturing and supporting, you can see what will be, and the empathy of letting them make these choices for themselves and the discoveries on their own. Courage, knowing that this, all of this will be a struggle, that there is no answer that is the correct answer, encouraging when you don’t know for certain the outcome, but if they fail, you will be there to pick up their pieces and help them mend. Affection is love’s right hand and you parade it on them with such splendor. The laughs, and giggles, and gentle kisses are but mere tamed forms of your love for them, and then there is your Love. The longest lasting most powerful emotion that can ever be conveyed with three simple words, or the softest of kisses, or even the rub of a back. This is the hardest word to describe in adequacy because your love doesn’t know limitations, it doesn’t know fear, it doesn’t know how not to love, and it doesn’t know when to stop. You are the only person that will give complete unconditional love with no boundaries to them and I will love you always for this.


This role that you are doesn’t have a right or wrong, and mistakes are going to be made, but together they will be made out of love. Your mother knew this just as hers did. So when the doubt, uncertainty, and unassertiveness become too much, remember that the book you have is blank and you are the author. There are battles that lie ahead that have unforeseen conclusions. You will teach, protect, warn, and harbor, but even when your nights watch is over these little human beings will reflect what they have learned from their mother.

You will always be there for them. Through the scraped knees, the bumps and bruises, what will be the broken hearts, and other trails, always watching, always comforting. Being a mother, well this is a debt that has no weight and has no limits, but can only be repaid by love, love and appreciation that can be shared now and as they grow. You are forging two little beings to be the best they can be, and they will know, understand, and love you for this. All these things that you do, you will sacrifice time and time again, and repeating when necessary.

You were their first kiss, their first teacher, and the one they love the most. So when you tuck them in at night remember that they depend on you as much as you do them, and squeeze them a little bit tighter with those hugs.
And I know that you know, but just in case you haven’t heard it today. I love you.