for all the mamas

i found this online today and felt like posting it in honor of mothers day.

happy mothers day everyone!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers intheir arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here".Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies whocan't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers intheir purse.For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. Andthe mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging ontheir refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at baseball, football, hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth oftheir cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and meanit.This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery storeand swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead,but realize how child abuse happens.This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explainedall about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year.And then read it again. "Just one more time." This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie theirshoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who optedfor Velcro instead.This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a littlevoice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspringare at home -- or even away at college. This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14year olds dye their hair green. For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front oftheir TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.What makes a good Mother anyway?Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?The jolt that t takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M.to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hearnews of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?The emotions of motherhood ar e universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...And mature mothers learning to let go.For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.Single mothers and married mothers.Mothers with money, mothers without.This is for you all. For all of us.Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.