Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful, crazy, exhausted, hard-working, beautiful mommas out there!
Happy Mother’s Day to the moms who’ve passed through this world and are no longer physically with us. Like my mom. We miss you. We wish we could hold your hand again. Nobody wants to hear our mundane stories about our day-to-day life and our kids’ latest accomplishments the way you did.
Happy Mother’s Day to the moms with adult children. Like my mother-in-law. We’re so grateful for you. We wish we could hug you, and honor you in person, the way you deserve. If you’re far away, we eagerly look forward to your next visit. Above all, we hope and pray you are safe.
Happy Mother’s Day to the moms of an only child. Like my sister. We see you. It’s not easy being the only option your kid has for someone to bounce things off of…questions, ideas, balls. You’re constantly on-deck, with no built-in playmates. You’re exhausted from the never-ending effort, but you just keep going.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the single moms. Like my friend. We are in awe of you. You scratch and claw your way to a safe place for you and your kids with a determination and strength that make us all proud. You may think your efforts are messy and inadequate, but we recognize them for the amazing, selfless feats that they are.
Happy Mother’s Day to the moms of newborns. Like my sister-in-law. We stand in solidarity with you, sister, as you find yourself waist-deep in the reality of parenthood. We understand the sleepless nights, the never-ending worry, and the monotony of putting one foot in front of the other without knowing what day it is or if your shirt is on backwards, because that is literally the only thing you can do right. You’re doing great. And yes, it gets better.
Happy Mother’s Day to the moms of multiple kids. Like me, and so many of my friends and family. Sit down today. You know you already cleaned the house yesterday so that you could feel ok putting your feet up today. Go on, ask for the foot rub. Read that book. Request some quiet time. Put down the “drill sergeant” hat for just a little, and do something that is 100% just for you.
Happy Mother’s Day to each and every type of mother in this frightening and unusually cleaner world today. Thank you for every shoe you’ve tied, for every tear you’ve wiped, for every hug you’ve given, for every meal you’ve cooked, for every lullaby you’ve sung while nodding off to sleep next to your child. For every time you listened and laughed and advised and cried. Thank you for protecting your off-spring with a fierceness you never imagined you possessed before becoming a parent. Thank you for your never-ending endeavor to mold good humans for this world. You are the backbone of our society, of our culture, of our planet. You have more power than the greatest ruler or president, more pull than the most popular person in school. On this day, take a moment to acknowledge your efforts and your incredible capacity for LOVE. Your calendar may have changed a lot in these last few weeks, and your days are likely vastly different than in the past, but here you are, still keeping everyone on track. Each and every day. Because *you* are a MOTHER. Happy Mother’s Day.
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