Ode To Mothers

Dear Moms,

I like these two photos because they are generational.  Because this weekend is Mother's Day I wanted to make a special blog-post for moms.  All moms, but especially my Mom, and my new Other Mom. It is their first Mother's Day as grandparents. And it is my first Mother's Day ever!

It is kind of a shame we have to wait so long to become Moms.  Well, the real tragedy is how long it takes for Moms to become Grandma's and Nonies so that we can appreciate what they did for us.  I am amazed at how much we take Moms for granted. And how little we understand what they have been feeling towards us all these years.

You always love your mom, but you don't think about all the times they gave you love and you were too little, or too sick, or too self-absorbed (a.k.a. teenager) to give it back 100%.   Moms are always there for you because that is how big their love is.  

You never realize how she felt on those first few months when you just cried and cried instead of sleeping, so she stayed up because Dad had to work.  She felt tired, sure, but she felt happy to do it out of love.  

 You never realize how she felt the first time you smiled at her, until your baby smiles at you, and experience Mom Love.

You never realize just how hurt she must have been when you were a teenager and it was "uncool" to acknowledge your parents in public.  Or how she felt when you thought her idea was bad, just because you didn't think of it.  She was sad, but she loved you because she was your mom. 

 You never realize how much she looked out for you and was your sidekick in the Great Water Gun Battle of Richardson, until you play with your baby and experience Mom Love.

You never realize just how hard it was for her to not laugh when you did something really ignorant, and she knew she had to scold you for good measure.  That is Mom Love. 

You never realize how helpless she felt when you were sick and she couldn't help you feel better and it broke her heart. 

It is because a Mom gives away a little bit of her soul to each child.  How can she not having been with you constantly for nine months without really knowing you, and then taking care of you for years after that? 

It makes me personally want to apologize all over for the times I was a brat, but thank her all over for the times she answered the phone at 4:00 a.m. because I was either (a) upset (b) driving home from work trying to not fall asleep or (c) overseas.  

I have always loved my mom, but I have never really understood how she feels about me. I cannot thank her enough for putting up with me and showing me how to be a good Mom myself.  And I have to thank Mom C, a.k.a., Other Mom, for obviously doing the same thing for my husband.  He is wonderful, and you have been wonderful to me (us).  Only a mom like Other Mom would stay up at 2:00 a.m. with our crying infant so we could get just a bit of sleep. 

So, thanks Moms. Thanks a lot. You are the best, and this is your day. Happy Mother's Day to All Moms!

Love,

Dena