Tribute to my Mom

I love being a mom. I really do. I love it today maybe more than ever. Maybe it's pregnancy hormones, maybe its the fact that Jeff totally got it right today and worked with the kids to make the whole day kind of crystally, maybe it's that I've just read through all my mommy mantra inspirational quotes and articles....maybe it's that I've stopped today to recognize the little moments.....whatever it is, today has been one of those magical motherhood days....and I've been drinking it in....flipping back and forth from teary eyes to big grins.

And maybe the biggest reason for the magical day is the time I've had to sit and ponder all the amazing mother examples I have always had around me, starting with my own incredible mother. I've been around enough to know that to have a mother like mine is a very rare blessing. To be surrounded always by such powerful, undeviating mother love and to have her beacon example ever shining before me has helped me profoundly, more than I'm sure I can even understand. Those of you who know my mom (even a little bit) will understand that I'm not exaggerating at all when I say she is a saint. She is the most selfless, giving, hard working, loving, funny, lovely, clear soul I've ever met. I have more and more admiration for her as I make my own journy into motherhood. Not only am I beginning to realize the sacrifices that she has made for me.....but I'm feeling the love she has for me as I love my children. I feel it spill through me into my kids and I'm witnessing the power of it as it comes through me.

I had a simple epiphany when I was on the cruise with my mom last month . I saw a mother carrying a sleeping infant on her shoulder and it hit me that my mother carried me like that once. That just as I change Charlie for bed and cuddle him till he begs me to stop, just as I help Hazel learn to peal a carrot and color in the lines my mother once did for me. Pretty basic, right? But I hadn't thought about her and me like that...and it hit me that all these little, in the moment simply monotonous acts of motherhood that she did non-stop all added up to me feeling like a loved cared for person. Which is not a trite thing. I've seen how hard it is for people to get over the lack of this kind of love.....it really can make all the difference. I'm so grateful today for my mom, but mostly that she taught me, through her example, that motherhood is crucial. That it is big and imporant and eternal and powerful. Thank you mom.

So, here's my little slideshow tribute. Mostly for my mom, but also for all the other amazing women who are in my life and have taught me what motherhood is all about. Please be sure to play the music to go along with it (push play on the icon below the slideshow). I love this song, it reminds me of my mom and I can't listen to it with out crying.