Phillip Done begins the first chapter of his book 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny with a list that begins, “I am a teacher…” As I read through that list wherein he describes all the things he does in the name of teaching, I thought to myself that Phillip would make a very good mother. And so, I’m totally ripping off honoring his marvelous idea and presenting you with a list of my own:
I am a mother. I eat the broken cookies. I have someone else’s boogers on my sleeve. I laugh convincingly at knock knock jokes. I have eyes in the back of my head. I carry Purell and band-aids in my purse. I jump up approximately 22 times during every meal to get something. I kick the annoying toys under the sofa. Dr. Seuss gives me a headache. I would rip the head off of a bear or a bully to protect my child. I am a mother.
If you leave a comment adding your own description of motherhood, I will randomly choose one lucky commenter at the end of the day to win one of Mr. Done’s books, autographed by the author himself — which let me tell you, will be a perfect holiday gift for any teacher in your life. Now I haven’t exactly asked Mr. Done if he will go along with this, but he’s super nice so I think he will. And if not? Then I will send you my copy of his book autographed by me.
* * * *
Philip says he’s in! An autographed book for one lucky commenter!
* * * *
Winner! AggieMa Michelle – Congratulations girl! Your autographed and inscribed book is on the way!
nan says:
I am a mother. I am the early bird who doses for worms. I am up in the morning when the party animals are just winding down. I see them this morning, coming out of the Latin Dance club I used to frequent, and I hand my sons some hard boiled eggs and juice and kiss them on their necks till they giggle. I hardly ever think of partying till dawn anymore, and I don’t mind at all. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:36 am
Donna W says:
I am a mother. My children are grown and on their own, but I still think with regret of things I could/should have done better when they were toddlers. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:21 am
Theresa says:
I am a mother. I kiss the boo boos to make them better. I hardly ever get more than 4 hours of solid sleep. I know the importance of balloons and bubbles. I never forget that Mickey Mouse has to come too. I make the night safe and warm. I have accepted that nothing I own is actually mine. I need to develop the patience of Job. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:53 am
Kathy says:
I am mother. I learned very early that it IS possible for your heart to live outside of your body. I hide my tears at the hastily flung verbalization of growing pains and pass it off as “allergies”. I anxiously wait for return calls or texts from my college age daughter so I can celebrate her successes, and commiserate with her when she falters. I think of creative ways to “inspire” (challenge) my teens when they’re tired of “doing their best” and just want to slide by. I am cheerleader, sounding board, defender, and friend. But best of all, I am mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:45 am
Sue says:
I am a mother. My sons are grown up, and on opposite sides of the world, but I will never stop being a mother. I don’t buy cookies any more. I miss the knock-knock jokes. The eyes in the back of my head are dimming from lack of use. My purse has nothing unusual in it – it looks so boring. I can sit down for a leisurely meal with my husband, or with friends, and only have to get up to clear the plates and fetch the dessert; but my legs still itch to get up for a little person, sometimes. The only toys under the sofa are cat-toys; I’d give anything to have a floor covered in lego bricks again. I’d even read Dr Seuss endlessly, if there was anyone who would appreciate it. I would rip the head of anyone to protect my child, even if I had to catch the next flight to the ends of the earth to look after them… but they don’t want me to.
On the other hand, I don’t miss having boogers on my sleeves. Not one bit.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:51 am
vickie says:
I am a mother. I cannot sleep soundly until all my children that still live at home are safe in their rooms. I make them call me when they arrive safely at their own homes after visiting. I worry that they are out too late, not eating well enough and that their throat hurts. I love to hear them laugh. I will never get enough hugs. I “inhale” my daughter when I see her. I am a mother
November 21st, 2008 at 8:51 am
Praise and Coffee says:
I am a mother…I bake cookies and pretend to do it for the kids.
Sue
November 21st, 2008 at 8:52 am
April says:
I am a mother. I listen silently to screaming and arguing knowing that to intervene before necessary would only delay their conflict resolution skills. I hug the doe eyes full of crocodile tears letting them know I’m proud when a happy compromise has been made. I sing quiet lullabies through sore throats and head colds. I will don macaroni necklaces, boogers, and spit up without a second thought. I sometimes lose my temper but know that children are the most forgiving people. Dressing for winter ranks almost at the top of my list of annoyances. I no longer have to read, but rather, I recite their favorite stories no matter where we are. My legs are only referred to as donkey and horsey and they’ve bounced themselves into exhaustion. Even through exhaustion I’m able to get a knot in my throat and give momma bear squeezes when the realization hits that these moments are passing all too quickly. When I look at my children a hope wells so deeply within that the problems in the world seem microscopic. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Monica @ WriterChic says:
I am a mother. I learned to count my life by Sundays (when I’d hit a new gestation week during pregnancy), and then by Fridays (day of the week Seth was born). Today is Friday 49, just as sweet as all the Fridays before, but not as sweet as those to come. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Joni says:
I am a mother. I take second place to ONLY grandma! I finally see a learned lady. I’m a cheerleader with a positive yell for the slowest track team runner. You run against yourself in track and as long as you better your run by a fraction of inch YAHOOOO! I take 6 little boys to scouts so 1 can be a member. They all think I am a bit cracked (witch is the actual word I heard from the back of the car). Now days with seat belts it would only be 4. How easy you gals have it!
November 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
Leigh Ann says:
I am a mother. I climb into too-small playscapes to play with my child. I squeeze into a tiny chair with knees to my chest to color with my child at the kid table. I go outside in the snow to play only to please my child (rather than hibernate through the winter). I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:31 am
Kim says:
I am a mother. I soothe the night terrors that so tear up my son. When asked, “Are you there, MaMa?” I respond, “Yes, Son, forever and ever and always.” I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am
Heidi says:
I am a mother. I am a mother to two teenagers and every inch of my body is feeling it.
My arms are aching to hold my babies again.
My heart is bursting with joy – just because I’m their mom
My knees are weak at their laughter – still.
My spine becomes rubber when they wrap their arms around me.
My head is spinning from how quickly they’ve grown.
My stomach is doing flip flops when I think of them leaving home.
My eyes are blurry right now.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am
Tracy says:
I am a mother. I ooh and ahh at lizards and creepy crawlies, while I scream silently inside. I laugh at silly knock knock jokes and jokes that don’t have punch lines. I kiss and hug and make everything better, but wish I knew how to truly fix everything completely. And even after all these years, I’m still amazed to wake up and realize that this blessing finally became reality. I am a mother!
November 21st, 2008 at 9:47 am
Staci says:
I am a mother. I am reminded of this every morning when I am at work and receive phone calls from the twins just before they head into class. “Are you going to have a good day?” “Yes, Momma.” “Okay, be good, stay on Green and I’ll see you after school. I love you.” “Love you, Momma. BYE!”
Times 2.
And when I clean out their back packs to see what kindergarten school papers we will be tossing or keeping. “Oh Momma, you have to keep that one, and that one, and yeah, that one too. I saved them for you.”
Times 2.
Every week.
Times 15 weeks.
I am learning the hard way, as countless other mother’s have, that I have to have a split personality when my son comes home for Thanksgiving, because on one hand, I’m so very proud of him for Joining the Marines and making it and happy that he will be doing what HE wants to do in March when he heads to Afganistan and I will support him because that is my job and my committment as his mother.
And other the other hand, I have to keep telling myself that no, I am not allowed to duct tape him to the wall in the closet to keep him safe and out of harms way no matter how tempting of a thought it is.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Robyn says:
I am a mother. Spit-up is part of my outfit every day, and I consider myself lucky if it is not in my hair. I dress my child up in a sweater because I am cold — whether he is or not. Nothing makes me smile more quickly than his smile; nothing makes me laugh more quickly than his laugh. I will happily spend an hour making the same face that makes him laugh over and over and over and over again. I walk through the grocery store saying things like “the bananas are yellow” despite the funny looks I get from non-parents. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:57 am
Kate says:
I am a mother. I hear every noise and footstep in the house and know exactly who it belongs to. When not holding them I can still feel their weight in my arms and smell their silky heads. I know every mark and shape and contour of their bodies. I never tire of stroking their cheeks. I love the people they are becoming and am amazed at their gifts and talents. Mostly I am amazed that God allowed me to be their mother. My heart does not belong to me, but rather to them. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am
skarlet14 says:
I am a mother.
My heart did a wild dance the day he smiled for the first time. It broke when I held him for his first shots.
I am instantly awake the moment he coos in the other room. I know he’s fine, but I have to check anyway.
I wait for court dates and lawyers and an agency to tell me it’s so, but I already know:
I am a mother.
* * *
God bless you Skarlet. Indeed you are mama and nothing can change that. ~ AM
November 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Cheryl says:
I am a mother.
I treasure each and every hug and kiss that I still get from my almost 13-year-old because I know that well is about to run dry…and it makes me so sad.
I still wait for my college age son to come home at night, and then I remind myself that he doesn’t live here anymore…and it breaks my heart.
I miss having babies and hands to hold…sloppy kisses…art projects to hang on my ‘fridge…being called “Mama”.
My heart swells with pride at the wonderful young men that my boys have become.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:05 am
Renee says:
I’m at a loss for words at the moment…but am enjoying so many of your comments.
Oh, and thanks AM, way to get my baby fever going again…
November 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
Mary says:
I am a mother(and a Nana).
I still want to kill(literally) anyone or anything that causes my three adult babies any sort of pain.I am learning (still) to let go of the three who hold my heart.I still miss them the most right after they have been to visit.Through high school, and college, weddings and births,the military and moves across the country,I still define myself by being their mother.They still light up my life, bring me joy and continue to be my teachers.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:20 am
Sarah at themommylogues says:
I am a mother. I eat the sandwich crusts. I tune out the whining, but can hear the exact moment my child is hurt. I may never sleep soundly again, as even a cough wakes me up. I read books. I sing songs. I cook. I help at preschool even though other children scare me. And I know where the blanket & Meow Meow are at all times. I fill every rare and precious snuggle time with kisses and I love yous. I am proud. I am in love beyond measure. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Margie says:
I am a mother. Mom, Mama. And probably sometimes, Old Goat. And I am a grandmother. Grandma. Gremmy. And while I no longer have the little arms of my kids around my neck, God has blessed me with the little arms of my grandkids around my neck. And kisses. And giggles. Hopping, skipping, sing songs. Amens at church at inappropriate times. Boo Boos and potty training. I am a mother and God has richly blessed me allowing me to be a grandma.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:30 am
Andrea Reynolds says:
I am a mother. I will happily and with great detail discus the contents of a diaper. I will never be without wipees. I know that my least favourite toy will become his/her “must have”. I know that blankies have magic powers (and make great capes).I know that Legos multiply at night. I know that anything that has to do with poop will bring tons of laughter. A burp goes a long way, too. I know that each day will be filled (I don’t always know with what, but I do know it will be filled!) I know that it will be a long time before I’m able to keep a really presentable home. But I do have a home. And I know how blessed I am to have it filled with four of the most delightful people that have ever graced this planet. I am a mother and it’s the best title I will ever have!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:31 am
lorik from tx says:
I am a mother. I stay up late cleaning up the little messes. I love beyond measure. I encourage even when I want to hold my 16 year old back. I ask how his day was everyday even though I know all I’ll get in return is “fine”. I let him make his own mistakes. I can feel his hugs even when he’s miles away. I still insist on the goodnight kiss. I would give up everything material for him. I had 6 surgeries to get him here. I worry. I’m a mother, after all.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:35 am
monica says:
I am a mother, though I have yet to meet my child. I have been a mother since the day I read “pregnant” on the handy at home test. I have prayed for, cried over and loved this little one from that moment forward. I have done everything in my power to protect him or her so far in their 12 weeks of life before birth. I have seen his or her tiny BB size self and cried tears of joy, love and thanksgiving to the ultimate creator. I have heard his or her fast heartbeat and long for the day when I can hold him/her in my arms! I am a mother and can’t wait to meet my child!!!!!!!!!!!!
–I am also a teacher, preschool. 11 years and counting! I am a nose wiper, I was my hands 155 times a day, at least. I am a surrogate mother to dry tears and give hugs. I am an entertainer to keep the troops happy and “with me” through circle time. I am a public speaker and singer, only with 4 year olds. I am a counselor with issues of “he said he doesn’t like me” and “she said I can’t come to her birthday party”. I am a referee when shoving breaks out on the playground. I am a cheerleader when he writes his name on his own for the first time. I am an art critic when I praise the new creation of glue, sequins, buttons and feathers. I am a miracle worker when I can get the stuck car out of the doll house oven. I am a teacher and I wouldn’t change that for the world!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:41 am
Stephanie says:
I am a mother, though my child is an adult. I can swap birth stories with the best of you. I look at her and still see “Disco Baby” dancing in front of the mirror. I still fill stockings. I hem pants when she comes to visit. I have a special ringtone for her call. I give medical advice, even when it’s not needed. I slip money into her coat pocket or her suitcase when she’s not looking. I smile and say I understand when she can’t make it home for holidays and birthdays. I am a mother. Always.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Jean@workingmomma247 says:
I am a mother..
I endure endless hours of the same DVD.
I like my dinners cold.
I know all the short cuts to get to after school activities on time.
I can feel a kids fever with out needing a thermometer.
I know chocolate donuts are the best form of bribery.
I am mother hear me roar!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Ali says:
I am an Early Childhood Educator. My coat pockets are full of eighteen different tissues with the boogers of eighteen different children in them. I help celebrate when the two-year-olds pee on the potty, and help dig out clothes when the five-year-olds don’t quite make it. I can make cookies with eight children, and eat them even though I know where all those hands have been. I come home covered in paint and glue, and teach my husband the words to Chicka Cicka Boom Boom over supper. I have an ever-growing mental list of all the fun and exciting things I will do with our children when we have them. I am and Early Childhood Educator.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:54 am
MJ says:
Hope you don’t mind me jumping in and putting my twist in on this
I am a “mother” though not in the traditional sense. When your children grow up, and leave home, venturing out on their own, and sometimes many miles away from the mother that raised them. It is then when sometimes they find a friend, who becomes their surrogate “mom.” In my circle, that would be me.
I am a fill in “mom.” My kitchen is always stocked for a home cooked meal, real food, not just ramen noodles, but I also keep the pizza guy on speed dial. My living room has real furniture, not a wobbly sofa missing a leg, but it’s not so formal that you have to sit up straight. I calm first day job fears, and supply the ice cream for break up woes. I bring the chicken soup for colds, I text encouraging words before job interviews. I know the real reason why that relationship didn’t work and will help plot revenge…I’m also the voice of reason that gently reminds it’s not worth it. As parents age, I’m the one offering a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen and strength when there is none. And at the end of the day, when we are all back with our mothers, I hug my own mom a little tighter and am grateful for the opportunity to share the love that she has taught me.
* * *
I have been blessed to have had several moms like you MJ – there’s a special place in heaven for fill-in moms. ~ AM
November 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Terri says:
I am a mother.
I still rock back and forth when waiting in line, even though I haven’t rocked a child in years. My children may not be in my arms, but they will always be in my heart.
I am their mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:04 am
TeacherMommy says:
I am a mother.
I kiss boo-boos even when they’re imaginary and just there to represent hurt feelings. I know the theme songs to Pooh and Tigger, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Imagination Movers by heart. I wipe up bodily fluids off bodies, floors, clothing, and any other surfaces they have magically covered. I fetch the books, bears, and countless drinks of water while repeating the litany “Now go to sleep” over and over again. I wake up fifteen minutes earlier than my already obscenely early wake-up time during the winter so that I can still make it out the door on time after bundling two wriggly little bodies with multiple layers of winter clothing. I take hugs and snotty kisses and the occasional “I love you” as more than sufficient recompense for the countless hours of sleeplessness, anxiety, fear, frustration, and plain hard work that come packaged with these miracles.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Heather says:
I am a mother. I rejoice at 4 hours of sleep in a row. I am transfixed by the mere shape of his lips, the light in his eye, his giggle, his tiny fingers and toes. I already miss my newborn. I delight in his presence. I wash diapers. I am the one he wants. (and secretly I cheer) I provide his milk whenever and wherever. I labored for 46 hours and now–I am a mother.
And can’t wait to be one again someday!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Karen says:
I am a mother.
I eat leftover food scraps from little plates. I get a shower-sometimes. I stay up late with my teens, and get up early with the little ones. I have wiped hineys for over 18 years. I weep at the grave of my oldest, and rejoice with my youngest for going potty.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:13 am
canadacole says:
I am a mother.
I live with my heart in my throat and my eyes full of tears. Sometimes because of joy, sometimes because of sorrow. Despite that, I swallow down most of the criticism and pour out the praise. I fix the lego tower a couple dozen times and manage not to curse (until I step on that lost piece in the middle of the night).I get taught how to live and love everyday while cutting up peanut butter toast and wiping spilt milk.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:34 am
Amy Nathan says:
Motherhood = the Twilight movie. At midnight.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Diana says:
I am a mother. I do not read (grown up material), sleep, or otherwise relax while traveling.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Kristy says:
I am a mother. My spit cleans better than clorox. I can perform all the Wiggles dance routines. My living room looks like a daycare. I don’t ration my kisses or hugs. I get upset and yell. I can function on 3 hours of sleep. I don’t remember how to relax. I turn into a horsey at night. I love the smell of baby lotion. I do the llama dance. My laugh is infectious to my girls. I brush tiny teeth and bare gums. I get frustrated. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Carlota Ponds says:
I am a mother. My little angelgirl was carried not in my womb, but in my heart. I still remember that day in the car when she first called me “mommy” instead of “Ms. Carlota” or “Ms. Daddy’s girlfriend.” She was three then. She is twelve now, and despite our share of tween angst, she has never once said, “you aren’t my real mom!” She’s probably thought it a time or two. But at the end of the day, she remembers who sings through the thunderstorms (both outside and in her life), bakes cookies (at midnight) for the class party I didn’t know about until 10 p.m., sews the costumes, lets the friends stay over…two nights, and goes to bat for her when daddy is too harsh. I never nursed, never rocked a baby, never changed a diaper. But, by the grace of God, and with His help, I am changing a life. I am a mother
November 21st, 2008 at 11:56 am
Kim (aka Doodles) says:
I am a mother. I have regrets (daily) over my failures.
* * *
Oh Kim, we all fail daily in some small way. And don’t we all, at some time or another, think, “Oh I wish I had done that better.” Don’t believe those people who say they have no regrets, we all act regrettably once in a while, we all need forgiveness.
Forgiveness trumps failure. Ask for it quickly, give it freely.
~ Antique Mommy
November 21st, 2008 at 11:59 am
rrmama says:
I am a mother. I am the cleaner of all vomiting episodes. I wipe up all the water from the overflowing bath tub. I praise each and every picture the kids show me. I can carry a baseball bag, toddler on my hip, and a coffee cup all while wearing heels! I am the best mom, or so my kids say, when we have McDonald’s for dinner. I am the protector. I am their champion. I am a mother, and I love every minute of it!!!
November 21st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Carrie says:
I am a mother. My stomach is scarred by stretch marks and my nipples are riddled with bite marks. I haven’t slept through the night since my son was born. The thought of teething makes me want to pull out my own hair. I would recognize pureed chicken anywhere. I could also tell you what my son ate for dinner last night by examining today’s dirty diapers. My favorite sound is my baby ’singing’ while he nurses, and my favorite sight is his toothy smile. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Jennette says:
I am a mother. I eat what’s left over so it won’t go to waste. I shed tears of commiseration over “nobody wants to play with me.” My refrigerator is buried under a pile of drawings/paintings/assignments with stars. My heart nearly bursts with joy to watch them giggle over something that’s funny only to them. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Jennifer says:
I am not a mother, I am a teacher. I provide stability, structure, and unconditional love to a hundred children who don’t have those things at home.
* * * *
Oh that every child might have a teacher like you in his life Jenn. You are awesome. ~ AM
November 21st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Mandy says:
I am a mother. This means I am everything to everyone in my home. I am a superhero to my girls after I have repaired a broken toy, righted a wrong, kissed a boo boo, solved a math problem, or just listened to them talk. I am a friend, mediator, negotiator, chauffeur, accountant, teacher, playmate, councelor, maid, disciplinarian, supervisor, and nurse. At the end of the day I am exhausted but I sleep with one eye open and my ears on full alert. I will immediately arise wide awake at 1:00 am to the slightest sound of a moan or groan from my child on the other side of the house down the hall while my husband sleeps soundly at my side. And I will hold the head (and hair) of my sick child while they projectile puke in the toilet or all over me. I will then lay them in my bed (with the “throw up bowl”) just to keep an eye on them while they sleep. I wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to my children and I never get a peaceful night’s sleep unless all my ducklings are home and tucked safely in their beds. I am everything to my children because I am a mother. After becoming a mom, I knew my life would never be same, nor would I want it to be. I never knew I could be frustrated, sad, angry and so full of love all at the same time for my child because I am a mother. I never knew that I could love and had so much love to give until I became a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
gretchen from lifenut says:
I am a mother. I have stretch marks up to my scalp, laugh lines down to my toes.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Katharine says:
I am a mother. I have a song for everything.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
mombo says:
I am a mother, wife, employee, counselor worship leader, and grad student. I spend every waking moment thinking I should be doing a better job at each and every one of these jobs. I get up early so my husband can take me to work so my daughter can have my car. I stay up late to start/finish a paper for class, while my family rallies their support for my education by feeding themselves and ordering cinnamon sticks for me. I spend four days on the couch in my husband’s hospital room, because he’s afraid of what might be wrong, but he doesn’t want to say so. I register my girls for college classes because they are so busy, too. I do the quick tidy so my son can fix a special meal for his 1 month anniversary with his first girlfriend. I boil chicken and rice for the dogs, because I don’t have time to go to the store for dog food – they don’t seem to mind. Wow, I could go on forever. I love my life – I just want more sleep.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Naomi says:
I am a mother. I haven’t slept through the night in nearly five years because *I* still need to check to make sure she is really OK without me.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Susan says:
I am a mother. I never knew this much love until I became one.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
JanMary, N Ireland says:
I am mother – I have my cesarean scars and stretch marks to prove it!
Sorry to be so flippant, this is a wonderful post, and I am enjoying all the comments.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Richey Grude says:
Phillip just sent me the link to this site, and as a Mother of six (seven, if we include Phillip when he and our youngest were inseperable from kindergarten onward,) I’ve now bookmarked it.
It’s been my experience that motherhood gets much easier and far more satisfying when the “baby” is in his mid-forties. The entire crowd turned into loving, caring adults, amazingly enough. Perhaps our mantra of “give them roots, then give them wings” had a hand in that. It certainly wasn’t my bumbling attempts at motherhood!
November 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Kimberly says:
I am a mother.
When my two year old says “wanna give mommy kisses!” with a sticky face and fingers when I have on a white blouse, I take the kisses every time.
And then change my shirt.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Jenny says:
I am a mother.
I can sense when a little person is standing beside my bed at night before they even whisper “mama”.
I know which child prefers mayo and which just wants mustard.
I can see in their eyes when they’re not feeling well, even before they say so.
I lose my temper.
I apologize.
I read the same book over and over and over again.
I read Psalms to my daughter before she goes to bed to remind her of God’s protection.
I wipe noses, bottoms, and messes all day long.
I laugh a lot.
I worry too much.
I am really good at multi-tasking.
I’ve never seen so much laundry.
I am SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED!
I am a Mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Aggiema (Michelle) says:
I am a mother. Keeper of the hearth and home. Receiver of all the blame but only part of the credit. I am encourager, disciplinarian, playmate (sometimes friend) and cuddler. I am slowly losing my credibility only to regain it in about 10 years. I am “Mama” to an incredible blessing from God!
November 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Amanda says:
I am a mother. I have walked around a store with baby vomit on my shoulder. I sometimes so desperately need a break from my youngin’ than as soon as I’m away all I think about it going back to them. I sleep-walk to their rooms to tuck them back into their beds and/or to nurse a baby back to sleep. I cut the crusts of bread, cut grapes in half, and call every meat “chicken”. My pockets have matchbox cars or half-eaten cookies in them. My boys are both geniuses. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I stopped being a teacher at school for them but still am a teacher at home.
I am a mother!
November 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Nett says:
I have three teachers to buy for. If I win, I’ll gladly buy the extra two.
I am a mother. I am, including but not limited to: a nurse (and EMT), a coach and a cheerleader, a teacher, a warden of sorts, an expert laundress, a manicurist, a pedicurist, a personal shopper, a singer/songwriter, a photographer, a landscape artist, a gardener, a piano teacher, an explainer of all things confusing, an optimist, a pet-care expert, a housekeeper/maid, a chef, a plumber, an eletrician, a painter, a seamstress, a counselor, an accountant, a secretary, a personal trainer, a fashion consultant, a hair designer and a barber. This is just the beginning.
I’m also chronically tired. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Melanie says:
I am a mother.
This post and all of these comments have left me with tears on my face.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Joanna says:
I am a mother. I try real hard to pay attention and show interest in another darn bionicle creation when I really could care less. I compliment them and toss out phrases I have no clue what it means but seeing them beam with pride I must have done something right. I play video games right along with them as well as hold belching contest that I no longer win.
I spend my day trying to get new concepts across in math, science, and english which causes my brain to cramp because I couldn’t remember it the first time around.
I pray with them, cry with them, play with them, teach them learn from them. I know my heart will never be the same. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Dev says:
I am an aunt. I smile when I think about her. I endlessly show off her pictures. I cuddle her and play with her constantly. I blow raspberries on her tummy and chipmunk cheeks. I hug her and kiss her for as long as she’ll let me. I buy her m’n'ms and gifts when her mother is not looking. I spoil her. And when she gets cranky and fussy, I take her home to her parents.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Lisa says:
I am a mother.
I love folding baby clothes. I say a prayer over almost every piece of clothing as I fold.
I am head-over-heals in love with my daughters.
I am in constant awe that God has blessed me so richly.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
bee says:
I am a mother. I discuss poop with anyone who’ll listen.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Christie says:
I am a mother. I know all the trains from Thomas the Tank Engine and all the characters from Star Wars – and which ones are in the original Star Wars versus The Clone Wars.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Wander says:
I am a mother. An empty nest mother. That doesn’t mean that I have any less worries, that only means that my worries are miles away and out of sight but never out of my heart.
I am a grandmother. A second opportunity to rock, to cradle, to change diapers, to tell bed time stories, to bake cookies only this time without having to juggle my time with work and motherhood. A chance to do some things better than I did the first time around. I am a grandmother the pinnacle of motherhood.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Thea says:
I dry eyes, wipe poopy butts and runny noses.
I make the best sugar-free peanut butter cookies.
I love big wet sloppy kisses.
I can’t sleep without my baby by my side at night.
I am a dog mother.
I see everyone around me having babies.
I am great at acting happy when yet another friend is pregnant.
I choke up when I look at baby pictures.
I can’t believe some friends are expecting their second baby already.
But I am a dog mother.. for now.
My baby now is furry, but I hope that God will bless us with a real, bald baby soon!
* * * *
Oh Thea, I’ve been where you are. You’ve got some wonderful coming your way, I just know you do.
PS: And I myself am a dog-mother, currently without a dog (4 yrs in Jan), which leaves a little hole in my heart. I too have wiped my dog’s butt and nose and eyes and whatever else seemed to be leaking. It was good training. ~ AM
November 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Jennifer C says:
I am a mother. I am the one who cleans up vomit in the middle of the night. I am the one who combs lice out of hair. I am the only one who can hold a grumpy 22 month old.
Can you tell what kind of day I had yesterday?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Tracy says:
I am a mother. I wake up at scheduled feeding times in the middle of the night even though my babies are sound asleep.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Kimberly says:
I never thought about children (my own) before…I babysat when I was younger but never wanted my own…At 16 I was diagnosed with bi-polar….Have that with or without the meds, makes me have very little patience…My boys (13 and 5) came along and they gave me something no pill could ever give me…Peace…I have good days and bad days however they are manageable…I no longer go through my life thinking only of me…Why me…Fix me etc….They are always on my mind no matter what I am doing…I can’t remember my life before them…I cried equally for them both when they started school…I have been to their plays, award ceremonies, sports etc…I cheer for my oldest when he makes the honor roll and I take more time with my youngest when he doesn’t. Nothing can break my heart more then the two of them as well as squeeze it so full that it feels like it is bursting…I pray to God everynight to keep them safe and happy and healthy and I pray they never know the personnal anguish of having a mental illness that to few people know about. I pray they never know the feeling of being all alone when you are in a room full of people…I pray it isn’t heredity and if it is, it skips them both. I am their Mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Tina I says:
I am a mother. I am the Kleenex police. I just did the happy dance yesterday because my toddler tinkled in the toilet. I cannot get enough of my baby’s velvety head. I am a disciplinarian that sometimes needs a time out herself. I am constantly thinking about what to make for dinner.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Meg says:
I am a mother. My two precious babies grew in my heart, not my tummy. They show me the meaning of pure joy. I re-clean the same things day after day and fold mountains of laundry. With each new thing I learn to appreciate my own mother more. Also, I appreciate their birth mothers more. I celebrate the triumphs, small and large. I try to keep my fears for my little ones at bay and have faith that they’re going to be healthy and happy. I have many wonderful examples of motherhood to learn from, so no excuses. I put on my big girl pants every day and give thanks. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Karen says:
I am a Mama…
Through wildly divergent paths, and halfway across the world, thanks to a loving God full of grace…I have been given the gift to love, nurture, discipline, guide, feed, care for, love some more, bathe, clothe, play with, read to…love beyond my wildest imagination this amazing child of His…
November 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Shannon says:
I am a mother. I give the correct dosages of medication to sustain life for my son. I wipe my daughter’s face after the contact sport of feeding her is done. My car radio is not my own, but inhabited with Laurie Berkner and Veggie Tales. I, alone, can interpret every word that escapes my son’s lips. I’m so very in love with my children. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Pam says:
I am a mother. I cut a grape into 16 pieces so that the baby won’t choke. Then I pick up approximately 8 of those peices off the floor because he thought it was fun to use his new skill and drop them. I potty train the toddler. I forget what a full nights sleep feels like. But I get to play polar bear, and I get hugs and nose rubs. I wouldn’t change it for anything, but as an older mama, I’d love more sleep.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Kelly says:
I am a mother…I sit through a 2 and a half hour ballet version of Cinderella with EIGHT classes of 2nd graders…then tackle the pizza buffet at CiCi’s with them. I catch and clean up vomit, snot, etc. I’m the last one to bed and the first one out of it. I have a terrible time standing up for myself but would take on anyone to protect/defend my children. I listen to #4 and #7 on Miley’s CD everytime we are in the car the entire time we are in the car. And I wouldn’t miss any of it for the world…I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Aimee says:
I am a mother – I trasform from laundry diva to princess Leah. I go from running errands to running beside a boy on a bike. I can leap tall piles of toys. I go from office desk to living room dance party. I get to be so many different people just being a mom – and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Diane Jennings says:
I am a Mama and a Grandma – I wipe what needs wiping, clean what needs cleaning, kiss what needs kissing and sympathize over skinned knees, broken hearts and lost jobs.
I’m like a Transformer – I become whatever I need to be to make everything better for my kids and grandkid.
* * * * *
Sing it sister! You speak the truth about all that wiping! ~ AM
November 21st, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Natalie says:
I am a mother…
I hold squirmers who get flu shots. I act dazzled by amateur drum solos. I arrive early to my Doctor’s appointments just to read the magazines in peace. I can smell hurt feelings a mile away. I spend too much money on gas to go here and there all for the sake of fun. I can tell the difference between brushed teeth and a mouth that has just been swished with flouride rinse. I know that words can hurt worse than time outs. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pm
PastormacsAnn says:
I’m a mother. I wake in the wee hours of the morning to the soft sound of tiny feet shuffling on the carpet in the hallway to my room.
I’m a mom. I say, “I was wrong. Will please you forgive me?” A LOT.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
desi says:
…and if you want whats on my dinner plate and there is no more, it is now yours. I didn’t really want it anyway.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Jenny says:
I am a (step)mother. I did not give birth to my two daughters, but I rejoiced when they began to call me “Mommy”. I am a mother. I make sack lunches, snacks galore, and dinner for the family. My children have too many toys. I am a mother when my husband gets sick. I welcomed my new-born son, happy that the girls finally got a brother. I am a mother fumbling with how to potty train a boy. I still sleep with the baby monitor on, even though he slept through the night at 11 months. I am a mother soaking up all the hugs and kisses and cuddles while I can. I am a mother, both physically and emotionally.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
jolyn says:
I am a mother. I can juggle keys and a toddler’s tantrum on an icy walk with one hand. I am a sleuth extraordinaire capable of finding things no one else can see. I can load the dishwasher, answer the phone, make dinner, and help with homework all while singing to the radio. I mete out discipline, referee fights, kiss boo-boos, and chase the boogy man away. I laugh, I yell, I see. I’ll do it all again tomorrow. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Andrea says:
I am a mother. I have crumbs on my floors and gates on my stairs. I pushed two swings today in 19-degree weather. I brush three sets of teeth every morning and night. I stuff three duffel bags full to spend one night away from home. I smile every time my husband tells me about the amazing thing he just saw one of our sons do, as though I haven’t seen him do the same thing seventeen times in the last three days. I have taken 6,000 photos of my children in 3 years. I would love for you to look at every last one of them as I look over your shoulder. I yearn for my children to fall asleep so I can get work done, and then can hardly pull myself away from the perfect beauty of their sleeping faces. I am an incredibly blessed mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Christine says:
I am a mother to seven.
I have to remember to listen with the same excitement to the knock knock jokes the little guys tell me that I do to the off color jokes the older kids tell me.
I am a mother and I know way too much about the bottoms (clean or dirty) of most of the kids as well as their bathroom habits. This is NOT information that I want floating around in my head and yet it is there anyway.
I am a mother and I have to remeber that at meals one kid will not eat poultry ever in his life and the 6 year old only uses orange dishes and the 12 year old can not have his food touch, the 17 year old needs garlic with everything and there will be at least 2 major spills during every meal and our dog is so very fat because in addition to his well balanced dog food, he eats everything the baby throws on the floor.
I am the mother, the same person who sits up all night with sick kids and kids with nightmares and still rolls into the car for a full day of shuffling kids around to their activities and looks like an escaped mental patient/bag lady.
I am a mother and I would not trade my fluffy,badly dressed self for my 18 year old body and fancy clothes for anything in the world. This is the body that gets all of the slobbery kisses and hugs and gets presented with too many beautiful pieces of artwort and flowers picked from my front yard.
I am a mother and I can see that in a blink of an eye my 2 year old will be exactly where my 19 year old is today and it is worth every second and I would do it all again.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Melissa says:
I am a mother. I travel with fifty pounds of entertainment and then find alternate things to explore instead. I always carry snacks. I kiss boo-boos. I talk to stuffed animals and have used every imaginable item as a cell phone to talk to Mickey Mouse. I am my sweet son’s favorite person. I am a translator. I am frequently exhausted! I laugh out loud every day and have learned to create songs about virtually everything. I get the best hugs and kisses. I play soccer, blow bubbles and catch kisses. I am a mother.
Thanks, AM.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Louisa says:
I am a mother. I’ve watched my only child grow, learn, struggle, excel and turn into a beautiful woman. In a few weeks I will watch as she graduates college and moves into her own apartment. I will always be her mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Abby says:
I am a mother. I am in awe everyday at my son and marvel at his growing vocabulary, stunt abilities, and cuteness. I pray everyday for wisdom and patience to be the mother he needs and deserves. I am a mother, 19 months now and counting…best days of my life
November 21st, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Pat says:
I am a mother. I still give my grown daughter a big smacky umwa kiss on the lips every time I see her (she lives in another city/state). They’re still just as sweet as when she was teensy. Oh, and she kisses me back! She loves her mommy.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
MrsNehemiah says:
I am a mother, I know just what my children are thinking, can change a mood with a hug, make dinner out of nothing, and bring untold joy with a $.50 purchase. I have caught puke in my bare hands without blinking, and changed an 18 month old’s diapers on my lap in an airplane.
I can clean anything with my thumb and a little spit.
Mrs N
November 21st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Melissa says:
I am not a mother… yet. For now, I am a wife. I am chief encourager, chef, weekday-lunch-maker, back-scratcher, hug-giver, listener, and friend. I play video games while eating takeout pizza when it’s my turn to plan a fun night for him. I go to fun stores and long walks when it’s his turn to plan a night for me. I gather up spare change from every countertop and pocket each night to save in the change jar or for laundry. I know which brand of orange juice to buy to get a huge smile, and which will get a wrinkled nose, so I clip coupons so we can afford the good kind. I cherish the quiet time I have now. I cherish other peoples’ babies, and enjoy their stories. But I long for one or seven of my own. My heart aches when I think of the six or seven years that separate me from seeing my own children… but part of me knows that in six years when I have my own, I’ll wish I could go back to right now.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Audrey says:
I am a mother and a grandmother. I say I love you when I part from all of them. I hurt when they hurt and I am joyful when they are joyful. I tell them I love them to the moon and back.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Tara says:
I am a mother. I cry at Hallmark commercials and look around when I hear an Amber alert hoping to help return a child home. I order from the menu, not what I want, but what I can share with the baby. I worry that I’m not reading to my kids enough, even when I’m reading Goodnight Moon for the thousandth time.
I am a mother. I rejoice when someone else becomes a mother, and mourn with those who are mothers without children.
I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Debbie says:
I’m an empty nest mother and a grandmother. I miss my kids when they’re not here and love it when they are.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
bonniebeth says:
I am a mother.
I make 30 turkey cupcakes for the 1st grade Thanksgiving feast today because that is what school moms do – even if they have been a school mom since 1984.
I am a mother.
I accept my son’s collect phone calls from prison because that is what prison moms do.
I am a mother.
I giggle with my daughter when she gets to come home from her big city job to visit because that is what best friend moms do.
I am a mother.
I believe that my children are capable of doing great things if they are willing to work in God’s parameters because that is what praying moms do.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Kimmy Done says:
I am a mother. I have three teenagers, a four year old, two Chihuahuas and a new bunny named Penelope II. As I gazed into my first born child’s eyes at birth I promised myself I would be the perfect mother. What a dumb goal! 17 years later, you guessed it, I didn’t keep that promise. My heart aches for not being able to be someone I’m not. I love my children deeply, but sometimes wonder ifI like them. I make them breakfast and give them the last eggs, but tell them when asked that I didn’t want eggs anyway and have a protein shake instead. I let my four year old and his friends roll me down the hill in a barrel even though I almost throw up. I let my 16 year old daughter wear my make up, shoes and clothes even though I hate it. I make popcorn late at night even when I’m almost too tired to stand. Then vacuum it up from all over the family room the next morning. I stay up till2am talking to my teenager hoping to make a difference. I was sick spending $6,000 to ship our dogs to our new home in New Zealand, but did it because the kids bought them with their own money. I cry in my closet with a pillow over my face. My heart literally leaps when I look at my four year olds smile or hear his sweet voice say “mommy”. I hate the smell of bunnypooh. I love to watch my four year old “love” his bunny. I freak out when I discover my child’s art work scratched on the side of my car. I send my teenagers to our 87 year old neighbors house to do yard work to build character . I will rip the head off my husband if he tires to get in the way of doing what is right by MY kids. I scrub boogers off the bathroom walls and under the kitchen table. I am a mother and an adoring sister-in-law. XOXO
November 21st, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Roxanne says:
I am a mother. I get excited over new Lego sets. I host sleepovers even when I don’t feel like it. I kiss my children when they are asleep and don’t know it. I kiss my children when they are awake and do know it. I bring order to chaos just by entering the room. I find lost lovies. I have caught vomit in my hands at the dinner table, cleaned myself and the vomiter up, then sat back down to finish my (cold) meal. I have sung the same series of songs for 8 years, and memorized picture books to recite when we don’t have a copy with us. I know the cure for anything is some cold juice and a movie. I tell my children daily that I love them and am proud of them. I know that I will fail them at times, and that they will forgive me. I show them that I love their father. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Rivkeleh says:
I am a mother. I remind my son to tuck his penis in when he poops so that he doesn’t pee on his feet, and also at other times not to lick the dog. In fact, I say incomprehensibly strange things with a straight face at least 15 times per day. I can produce any object out of my purse on command, despite its being only 5″ by 7″ in size. I am no longer phazed by any bodily fluid except for vomit, which still gives me the willies. I can recognize the sound of my son’s voice in the din at Chuck E Cheese, and I can hear the inaudible sound of him getting into trouble from a dead sleep in another part of the house. I would rather spend my day engaged in intense conversation between a plastic pacycelphelasaurus and dimetrodon as they stomp through a field of playdough than almost anything else on earth. I can intuit the tune to any song in a Skippyjon Jones book. I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Tam says:
I am a mother. I sleep with one eye open. I wear necklaces made out of spray painted macaroni noodles. I smile at a stranger in the grocery store with food stains on her shoulder, because I know that she is a mother, too. I read the posts of 96 total strangers with tears in my eyes, because I am a mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Abby says:
I catch spit/throw-up in my hands to save the freshly cleaned carpet. I am a mommy!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Sharon says:
I am a mother.
I would go to any extreme to keep my children safe and healthy.
I am prouder of them than I would ever thought possible
I feel incredibly blessed to be their mother.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
fern says:
I am a mother.
I feel the highs higher and the lows lower. I want to protect my children from all pain and sadness, yet I know that they grow from these experiences, so I watch and support and comfort.
I am a cheerleader and a safety net. I am a pillow and a hankerchief. I say “go for it” and “be careful” all in the same breath. I know when to give advice and when to just listen.
I am proud of and proud for my children.
I want nothing more than for my children to grow up happy and healthy, leave home, and begin their own adult lives. And yet I dread the day when it will come.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Weekend Linkage: Just for My Mom « The Faery Inn says:
[...] I Am a Mother ~ Antique Mommy [...]
November 21st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
but Momma says:
I’m a Mom. I collect baby teeth for absolutely no apparent reason. I eat at McDonald’s. I watch Spongebob. I carry barf bags in my car. I tolerate my 14 year old’s wish to appear that he dropped out of the sky instead of my womb. I am a Mom.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 am
Sudee in Florida says:
I’m a Mother and always will be no matter how old they grow.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
Paulette says:
I am a mother,
There is no greater or deeper joy, I am a mother to a beautiful 23 year old daughter and to a son who is a senior this year, life prepares you for every stage and my grown kids still need and want their mom.
I was always motherless due to extreme abuse, I mothered the total opposite, I miss my kids being young at times but I wouldn’t change the beautiful adults they are either,
I do NOT miss snot, and I can’t wait to be a grandma, until then I am a mother, a blessed mother indeed.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 am
Allison says:
I am a mother. They are too old for it, but I still keep a monitor in their rooms so I can hear them breathe throughout the night. I secretly inhale their scent…the woodsy, fragrant, beautiful scent of precious little girls. I completely recognize that I knew nothing that mattered before I became a mom. Nothing.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:09 am
Adrian says:
I am a mother – of boys. I have thrown 36 full-blown birthday parties, some of them involving entire classes of kids. I have been tripping over Legos and Hot Wheels for 25 years now and I have watched more video games and violent cartoons than I can count. And you know what? I LIKE IT! Boys are da bomb!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 am
Kathy says:
I am a mother.
I had my only child later than most, and I look in the mirror and despair that people will see the gray in my hair and the lines on my face and think I am his grandmother. But when my almost three year old touches my cheek and says “Mommy, you’re beautiful” I believe it because to him, its the absolute truth. I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 am
Sharon M says:
I am a mother. I call my out of state, 27 year old, son once a week just to hear his voice, or ask for advice or give him family news. I plug in my ADHD/bipolar still at home, 24 year old sons cell phone every morning just to keep it charged for him, so we can keep in touch, if needed. I am there for my daughter, away at college for the 1st time, at the other end of the phone, whenever she wants to talk, ask for help or advice or complain about an inconsiderate house mate or two. I’ve even offered to fly down and give those house mates a piece of my mind. I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 am
Jackie says:
I am a mother. I cried more tears when my daughter’s boyfriend was forced to break up with her. I take pictures of them sleeping because it captures the last vestiges of innocence. I glow with joy when people tell how sweet it is to see my 11 year old son hug and kiss me and tell me he loves me in front of his friends.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 am
Melissa K says:
I am a mother. I’m learning that sometimes it’s harder not to help my children do something so they can learn it on their own. I let them make the same mistakes I made even though I want to interfere.
I am a mother. Nothing makes me happier than having the arms of a certain eleven year old girl and six year old boy around my neck and hearing I love you, even when the school bus is waiting for them to get on.
I am a mother. I cry for the children who are being abused or ignored or bullied. And I cry for the children of a local man who drowned to save his two boys because they no longer have one of their parents. I cry for all the children who don’t have two loving parents in their lives as I look at my own who are adored by theirs; simply because I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
WeaselMomma says:
I am a Mother. I have magic healing powers. I can kiss a scraped knee and I can hug away a bad day. I can turn an awful day around with your favorite dinner or warm cookies. I can make my home a safe refuge in the middle of a harsh world. I am a pillar to hold tight in the middle of any of life’s storms. I am a safe haven of love comfort and trusted advice.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:06 am
Angie says:
I am a mother. I face down monsters in the closet. I face down monsters in real life, too. I can spend hours imagining, building trains, drawing pictures, pushing swings, and spinning circles. I can dance endlessly in kitchens. I can watch “Homeward Bound” a million times and not grow tired of seeing their faces light up at the end. I can draw superheroes. I can be a superhero. My lap is never too small. My arms are never too short. I am in love with my children’s daddy. I dread them growing up, but I don’t want to stop them either. I am a mother. I am doing exactly what I want to be doing. Loving. Laughing. Leading. Learning.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
Liz says:
I have wanted this book since you first talked about it!! I hope I am the winner!!
I am a mother and a grandmother. I mother grown children and small grandchildren. In a single day I wipe noses and bottoms, teach one their colors and abc’s and another how to drive and do algebra. I drive to school and from school and I help at school. I read books to the kindergarten class, tutor a fifth grader, and work in the lunch room. I break up fights between small children, and teach diplomacy to big ones. I cook, clean, and do laundry. I snuggle, comfort, and love. I am nothing to some, but I am everything to others. I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
k&c's mom says:
I am a mother of a now empty nest.
I still worry about. I pray harder than ever for them. I sigh with relief at times that I’m not in charge 24 hours a day and they are doing JUST FINE without me. I burst with joy at their accomplishments as adults, just like at did at their fingerpaintings at age 3. I envy Antique Mommy that she jumps up 22 times during meals: I think I ate standing up for two decades!
* * *
You’re smarter than me – it would be a lot easier to just eat standing up. ~ AM
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Terri says:
I am a mother. I am on stand-by waiting for my daughter to call saying she is in labor with her first child, my first grandchild. I am thrilled and honored that she wants me with her and her husband all through the delivery. I am a mother, soon-to-be- Grammie!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 am
Linds says:
I am a mother. My children are all grown up and now they stand alongside me by choice, and not because I hold on to them tightly. I look at them and I see the small children who danced all through my heart, and I see too the big children who still need their Mum to be there for them sometimes. Always. I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
carol b says:
I am a mother.
I laugh, cry, bake, run, wipe, cuddle and clean more than I did before.
I love more than I ever knew was possible.
I am a mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Dawn says:
I am a mother. I cuddle and caress my son so many times each day, I loose count. I laugh and giggle. I saw my son very ill last week and was ready to do whatever it took to get him well again. I melt at my son’s smile and laughter. I can’t wait until my son talks, knowing that once he begins he won’t stop, if he’s like me. I love and cherish each milestone. I am a mother, and am so happy that it was possible.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Jana says:
I am a mother. I read books until I’m cross-eyed, I interpret his words for others who have difficulty understanding his speech, I experiment with different hairstyles for her, even though I’m terrible with hair, I clean and wipe and throw away and organize and plan and sign forms and schedule appointments and buckle car seats and buy raisins and goldfish (by the gallon) and correct and sing and cheer and hold and pray.
In the moment of these events, sometimes I am tired and don’t want to that very thing. Sometimes, I just want to hide in the bathroom and read a magazine.
But mostly, I just don’t want to miss a single second of life with my two miracles. As I have joked, I’d cut off my legs for them, except I need my legs to run into their arms.
Who deserves this blessing?
Not I.
Thank you, oh merciful God.
Jana
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Christi says:
I am a mother. I have learned what it is like to wake in a panic in the night with the absolute need to check on a tiny baby and watch her breathe. I am learning the fine art of balancing the need to let nothing bad happen to my child and the understanding that I must let her discover her world. I am an emotional wimp thanks to the heartstrings attaching my child to my chest.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Susan J. says:
I am a mother. I can tell from 50 yards away that something went wrong at school today. I call myself a stay-at-home mom, but I rarely get to stay at home. I have learned that I can stand up in front of a crowd and be the PTO President for my child’s school and not faint. I can find “lost” items that no one else can find.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Carolyn says:
I am a Mother. Thank you God for the biggest blessing in my life 31 years ago and thank You now for my continuation of being a Mother to little ones through my 3 precious grandsons. Still have the boogers and love it! I am a Mother.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Shelley H says:
I am a mother. I need to hear my sons voice daily, even at 19. I am a friend to him when needed. I am the encouragement for him to persue firefighting. I am still his protector. I am the only one to have his back his entire life. He is my right arm. I hug and kiss him daily and tell him I love you – each and every day.
I am a mother. I need to know that my 15 year old is happy. I am his confidant. I meet his needs when his father does not. He lives with his father by his own choice. I let him live there and let it be okay. I text and/or call him weekly and tell him I am proud of him and that I love him.
I am a mother. I wait for our daughter in China. I pray that she is healthy. I pray that she will make the transition smoothly. I am grateful that her birth mother will choose life for her. I will start all over again with boogers, diapers, and complete joy in my heart. I am patiently waiting for our daughter.
I am a mother forever. Nothing will ever compare to that.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Cassie J. says:
I am a mother. I cook for 2 hours for a 15 minute meal. I melt in my chair when my boys run back to hug me and thank me for it (even though their dad told them to). I bring forgotten items to school. I wash soccer cleats and shin guards. I sit on cold bleachers and cheer on our teams. I pray for my son’s future wives. Oh, how I pray! I am a mother.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Fraulein says:
Can I just say — these responses are all brilliant, wonderful and moving!!
I am a mother. I keep the monsters and “bad guys” away. I sing little made up songs to calm my (4-year-old) baby down. I tell her she will always be my baby, even when she’s a grown-up. I find lost teddy bears. I play hide and seek. I give big hugs after time-outs. I would kill to do this one more time, but probably won’t get to, because I am getting too old…so I try to be always thankful to God for blessing me with my one beautiful, healthy Peanut.
I am a mother.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Roxanne says:
I did not say this. Joshilyn Jackson did. She is a authoress and good at saying things like this. . .and it BEARS repeating.
“Signing up for motherhood is like AGREEING to cheerfully become a complete loon for the rest of your span on earth.”
November 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm