The Stuff of Mothers'

Mothering? It's an exotic job.

Mother's Day? What a gentle loving sentimental holiday. Dewy roses, soft pastels, wispy angels, creamy chocolates, glitter and butterflies, soaring with visions of maternal love and affection. Trying to shine our deep and profound feelings towards our mothers, to show our gratitude for life.

Mothers, from the oldest to the newest and all the lovely mothers in-between. Mothers aging, growing, worrying, fending. Mothers memories, moments, care -- soup, crayolas, teas, tantrums. We do it all.

Driving for miles to sit on hard bleachers when it is too hot or too cold, uncomfortable camp chairs on wet fields. Lugging treats to school, forgotten homework, jackets, emergency projects. Urging the child on after crushing defeats, cautioning nobility after magnificent wins.

Sewed shoes, designed skateboards, spending time to get the grip tape on in a wild pattern. I did that. Driving kids to parks, swim lessons, fencing lessons, dance lessons. Baking cookies, cupcakes, clay, Shrinky Dinks. I did that.

The stuff of mothers.
Finding stuff; gloves, shoes.
Washing stuff: gloves, shoes.
Building stuff: science projects, indoor forts.
Tickling, kissing, taking temperatures, dispensing medicine.
Waiting: doctor offices, after school dances, lessons, church, birthday parties, sports events.
Feeding stuff; fish, cats, dogs, kids.
Admiring stuff everything from dead mice or snakes to broken bone casts.
Providing stuff from computers to cars.
Teaching stuff from driving, cooking, tying shoe laces, how to hang up a towel or cut up a chicken. Look both ways,
Wiping stuff: snotty noses, bleeding lips, messy bottoms, dirty hands.
Squishing stuff: spiders, mosquitoes, bananas, glue, clay.
Cleaning stuff: cages, fish bowls, dog poop, kid vomit.
Vacuuming stuff: cat hair, dog hair, kid hair when they decide to cut their own bangs or their brothers.
Stepping on stuff: Legos, action figures.
Tripping over stuff: balls, dolls, bikes.
Sweeping stuff: sand, leaves, dirt, spills.
Catching stuff: snakes, toads, snails.
Throwing away stuff: old toys, blankets, week old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that somehow got left in the pocket of their jeans.
Cooking stuff: cooking food kids don't like.
Taking them places they don't want to go.
Buying them clothes they won't wear.
Hurting their heads when you comb it, especially if you are combing out glue, wax, peanut butter, gum.

Letting them fall off a bike, get hit with a ball, get hurt by a dentist. Letting them swim, climb, jump, fail, and fall in love. Then wiping up the blood, tears, dirt, sweat and washing out the stains. Putting the broken heart pieces back one tear at a time.

Watching them fail and fail and fail and try again.
Encouraging them when there is no other solution.

The hard hand stuff: What is sex? My teacher doesn't like me. Why learn the times table? So and so keeps picking on me. I can't do it. I don't feel good.

Stand still for photographs.
Kiss grandma.
Say please and thank you.
Get away from: the aggressive dog, broken glass, the abyss that called them all.
Don't drip: snow-cones, popsicles, bar-b-que sauce, ketchup, ice cream, watermelon juice.
Wiping up what dripped.
Washing what was dripped upon.
Handing out another ice cream cone.

Getting over stuff: "You did WHAT?" "You went WHERE?"

Bath.
Brush your teeth.
Wash your hands.
Use condoms.
Pay your bills.
Study.
Finish your homework.
Be home by midnight.
Don't drink and drive.
Oh the tears we have caused.
All the "nos" we have said.
All the explaining, explaining, explaining.
All the waiting, waiting, waiting we have done.

As a mother working or staying at home you knew you were doing it wrong. Mothers and mothering comes in all shapes and sizes, but we never seemed to be quite the right fit.

We spent much of our youth mending, sewing, patching, gluing, finding, cooking, working, mixing, bathing, fixing, wiping, washing, driving, waiting, nursing, hugging, kissing. All because of this child with sticky kisses and dirty hands.

Good job mothers' everywhere, good job.
And they love us anyway!

My favorite mother quote:
Life is the first gift, love is the second, understanding is the third.

I survived being a mother.