I was thinking today about the deep pool of amazing moms in my life. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by how they’ve overcome backgrounds, circumstances, and difficulties that I can’t even fathom. And sometimes I’m just awed and humbled by the love and effort they put into their parenting. I have learned important lessons from the moms I know, and I’d like to recognize them.
So moms, I honor you with a virtual toast . . .
Here’s to the moms I know who decorate their homes to the hilt on every holiday, even the minor ones. From you I have learned the art of making special times truly special.
Here’s to the moms I know who read piles of parenting, child development, and education books, trying to be the best moms they can be. From you I have learned that motherhood is a perpetual learning process, and that there are no experts.
Here’s to the moms I know who found themselves pregnant when they didn’t plan to be, and who have embraced motherhood with humor and gusto. From you I have learned to go with the flow of life.
Here’s to the moms I know who have struggled with infertility, who have wondered if their dreams of motherhood were really meant to be. From you I have gained a greater appreciation of the miracle each child truly is.
Here’s to the moms I know who have welcomed children into their families through adoption. From you I have learned firsthand that family is not defined by bloodlines.
Here’s to the moms I know with girls, who carry the weighty responsibility of being their daughter’s first role model. From you I have learned the importance of following my own dreams and showing my girls what is possible.
Here’s to the moms I know with boys, who adore their sons and strive to nurture that funky blend of masculine energy and sweet sensitivity. From you I have learned to appreciate the gender differences I don’t fully understand.
Here’s to the moms I know who have broken cycles of abuse, addiction, and dysfunction from their own childhoods with beautiful examples of mindful parenting. From you I have learned to be conscious of every interaction with my children.
Here’s to the moms I know who are parenting on their own, who don’t have someone to share the load. From you I have learned that women are capable of amazing feats, and not to take help for granted.
Here’s to the moms I know who have lost their precious babies, who have had to endure the grief most of us won’t even let ourselves imagine. From you I have learned strength and faith in the face of suffering.
Here’s to the mom I know who chooses to wake up at 4:00am every day to go to work, so she can be home in time to meet her kids at the bus stop after school. From you I have learned the value of sacrificing my own comforts for my kids.
Here’s to the mom I know who is a recovering alcoholic, who begins each morning with prayerful conviction and ends each day calling herself to account. From you I have learned to take life – and motherhood – one day at a time.
Here’s to the mom I know who has twice as many kids as I do, and yet takes the time to cradle her child’s face in her hands and smile when he asks her a question. From you I have learned the value of giving kids your full, loving attention.
Here’s to the mom I know whose husband took his own life while she and her kids were home with him, and who has carried on by pouring her heart and soul into her children and her faith. From you I have learned that nothing in life is guaranteed, and that “with God, all things are possible.”
Here’s to the woman I know who is not, and probably never will be, a mom in the literal sense, but who sees all the world’s children as her own and strives each day to help them realize their beauty, creativity, and worth. From you I have learned that moms don’t have a monopoly on changing children’s lives.
Finally, here’s to the moms and women I know who love, teach, nurture, worry, agonize, relish, laugh, cry, yell, apologize, wonder, ache, dream, counsel, encourage, pray, play, and otherwise experience the adventure and privilege of life with children. From you I have learned that motherhood is both an individual and communal undertaking, and I am grateful for your examples, inspiration, and support.
Blessings to each and every one of you. 🙂
 If you enjoyed this post, please pass it along. You can follow Motherhood and More on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Comments 8
Cheers, Sherri! 🙂
Just lovely. Made me happy and sad. Kids (and being a parent) is truly a blessing! Cheers to you too, Annie!
Beautiful post!
This is just lovely. It got me all teary because I turn to YOU so often as MY mothering heroine!!
Love you, too, Sarah! I honestly think working moms can be such a great role model for their girls, and I bet you appreciate your time with your kids more than I do because I’m with mine all the time. Every situation has its own challenges. And I don’t think many of us are living the mothering life we pictured pre-kids. 🙂 It’s all part of the adventure of life, isn’t it?
Oh Annie this is beautiful. You have some amazing friends because you are an amazing person yourself. I read this and think, I haven’t had to deal with ANYTHING compared to these women you reference at the end. I’m not the mom I had intended because I didn’t want to be working outside the home, but I am living this second choice life with as much passion, spirit, and gratitude I can muster because my daughters deserve it and like you, I’m so inspired by this community. This sacred journey is a precious thing…both the experience as a mother and the community we share. Love you Annie.
So true, Kathy! I had a rough evening with my eldest, too. Must be something in the air. These tween years are toughies, sometimes.
I read this Annie…it brought a tear to my eye…had a rough day with my oldest today and feel like a horrible mommy, but this reminds me that I do care, love, agonize, teach, counsel pray, play etc…I do all those things as a mommy…so this inspired me to realize that we will have our good and bad days but my kids WILL ALWAYS KNOW…their mommy loves them very very much!And…sometimes, that is all that matters!