by Sandra Cole

Created on: May 09, 2010

On Mother's Day I want to wish you all a wonderful day, surrounded by those you love.

But I'd like to suggest that you take some time to think of your years of mothering- the satisfactions, the fears, the painful, and the joyous times.  Think back to the birth of your children and the elation, but at the same time, the fears of the moment.  You were given an amazing opportunity to share your wonder of the world around you with a new being who was just drawing the first breath of air in this strange new world.  You were to be the guide as your baby crawled, then walked into the world, welcoming each new ray of sunshine or splash of warm rain.  Yours was the responsibility of kissing, washing and bandaging boo boos- both the physical and emotional kind.  What strength it took to put that small being first and foremost in your life, the strength needed to be the foundation for all the lives in your family!  Sometimes you were a rock and sometimes putty, but you were always there for them. 

Remember the great warm moments, the terrifying moments when you feared harm would come to your child, the hilarious moments, the proud moments, the moments when you almost forgot you were a separate being from that child who was out in the world taking such chances that you held your breath in suspense.  Remember the loving things you did for your child and the glow you felt when that child passed along the favor to another person- pushing the benevolence further out into the world.  Think back to the milestones- from producing a miracle on the potty to making the honor roll.  Summer vacations, Little League games, ballet recitals, school concerts, holidays, Halloween costumes. You were always there applauding their accomplishments and encouraging their forays out into the big wild world.

You were their safe harbor to return to whenever the towering waves threatened to capsize their peaceful sail through life.

Think way back to your mother and the things she passed on to you, from the phrases you hear issuing unbidden from your mouth to her attitudes about the earth and its people that were passed along through words and deeds. Think about her sacrifices for you in the mature light of your understanding of the rewards and challenges of motherhood. Say thank you to her if she's still earthbound and a silent thank you if she's not.

Then give yourself a big Mother's Day hug, arms around yourself and squeezing lovingly, the way you do for your children.  And give yourself another one from me in acknowledgment that we've all been in this together, whether near or afar, in real life or in spirit.

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