She is willing to sacrifice for her children and often her needs come after the dog is fed. It’s ok, they are her children too. It is a Herculean task to carry the mother load through to the next day and the feat often goes unnoticed by those she loves the most. She should know, there were times her own mother’s heroic moments passed without a word, silent but profound.
In the span of minutes that feel like seconds, she can negotiate job flexibility, worry, coordinate pick-ups and drop offs, hunt ingredients for and prepare dinner, referee sticky, messy fights all while bathing a child, reviewing spelling and throwing a load in the washer.
To the young she defines security, a safety net that allows the jump, the risk the fall that takes life to the next level. She may be squeamish, unable to watch the leap but she is there heart and soul, the hand that shows possibility of a flight path. Because in her mind all is achievable, exceptional and profound in her child, especially in the less graceful or grateful moments that life wrings and wisdom marks.
Her own moments of triumph and success are often met by her humble disposition. This mystifies her child’s natural inclination to kvell, beam with pride and pleasure. Her feats big and small seem more goddess than human early on but the feeling retreats with time until her humanness rounds the corner and what nearly takes her out is how human she has become to them. It is seeing that in her child’s adolescent eyes that steals a few breaths, insights tears and bring to light the parallel but altered universes that paves their path for a time.
Then, without notice but with considerable churning and maturity, that look of respect from child, that is not a child anymore, to mother brings tears that are warm and happy. She has grown amazing, a role model and her insights of brilliance are once more delightful and inspiring to her child.
There is little we can do or say to express what a mother is and what she does for her child. But we can clearly thank them with relaxation and nurturing on their special day. How will you thank her this year?
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