Mother's Day

Since my Mother's Day was so wonderful and relaxing, I managed to fall asleep early. Which turned out to be a good decision because my little one had a rough night. He is only little for such a short time, I will sleep when he is older. Which brings me to my goal for this Mother's Day post, to leave a special message for my children. As a mother, you worry about a lot, no... you worry about everything. If anything were ever to happen to me, I would want my children to know how much I love them... if it is even possible to put it into words.

For my daughter Kate, you are my sunshine. You always manage to light up the room with your smile, your laughter, your being. As you once said to me, "You always wanted a Kate Kate" and I did. I always wanted a girl (and a boy) and for some reason I always knew I would have a little girl first. I couldn't wait to teach you how to paint, dance, and play with dolls, all things I loved as a child. Your happiness is contagious. You have a sweet, kind, and genuine heart and a love for all animals. I am proud that you are my little girl.

For my son Stephen, you are my little man. As my mom would say, "I have never seen a little boy love his momma so much!" And you do, I never understood the bond between boys and their mothers until I had one of my own. I knew I was going to have a little boy the second time around. Right now, you are changing and growing everyday... you are only a baby for such a short time and it is going by too fast. I adore your smile and your platinum blond hair. Right now, I am your world and all too soon you are going to be into everything else around you. For now, I love to hold you in my arms and I am proud that you are my little boy.

I never knew that my children would be so entertaining! Each day I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to be with them. As much as you can "plan" out your day, you still never know what they are going to do and say. For example, today I am trying to head out the door to my parents house and the next thing I know Stephen has pulled himself up to a standing position for the very first time. (By the way, balancing himself on David's Playstation 3, Daddy was very proud.) Kate pulled herself to a standing position on Mother's Day 3 years ago, how ironic for Stephen to follow in his big sister's foot steps.

For my mother, one of my favorite memories of a Mother's love. When I was little, I loved to dance and I always wanted to be in The Nutcracker. So, Mom and Dad signed be up for ballet lessons at The Richmond Ballet, so I could audition. Even though I had taken dance classes for years, I was not trained in classical ballet. (In other words, I was not the best "ballerina.") But, I was going to do my best and audition. I remember auditioning and coming out overhearing mother's telling their daughters how bad they had done during their auditions. I looked at my Mom and she gave be the biggest smile and told me that I was wonderful and she was sure that I had made it. I was so happy and I never doubted that I did a wonderful job. I didn't make it, and I am sure part of it was because I was not a trained classical ballerina. However, Mom still reminds me that I was technically too tall for the parts I auditioned for. Yes there was a time that I was too tall for something. Maybe that did come into play... we will never know? But what I do know, was in that moment when I looked to my mother for reassurance, she was there. She was always there whenever I needed her. She helped me to be strong, happy, and loved, always loved.

So for those of you who are exhausted by your children, take in a big deep breath and be reminded that babies don't keep.

BABIES DON'T KEEP

Mother, oh Mother,

come shake out your cloth,

empty the dustpan,

poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for Children grow up,

as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......

--Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day - Erin