In My Daughters’ Eyes

Today is Mothers Day.  Today is the day to celebrate moms everywhere – married moms and single moms; moms of one and moms of ten; adoptive moms, biological moms, foster moms, and stepmoms; moms who have never held their babies in their arms.  We celebrate you.

Motherhood is hard.  So hard.  It’s an often thankless job in the day-to-day things we do for our families.  But we do it because we love them.  Because it’s our job. Because it’s what we have been called to do for the rest of our days.  I know our children will grow up and leave our homes, but we will never stop being their mom. Never. We will love them and worry about them and wonder about them and pray for them for the rest.of.our.lives. What a joy.  What a responsibility. What a privilege to be called “mom,” “mommy,” “mama,” “mother.”

I’m so grateful to God for my children, but I’m often so overwhelmed with the weight of trying to get it right.  I mess up often.  I yell a lot.  I don’t always play with them enough.  Sometimes I don’t listen very well. and Sometimes they eat way too much sugar and watch way too much TV.  I have a lot of days that I would label a “mom fail.” But oh the precious forgiving, gracious, loving heart of a child.  Every time I do something dumb – even if it’s just dropping something – my middle daughter looks at me and says “It’s ok, Mommy.  I still love you. I’ll always love you.”  And whenever I mess up royally and ask my girls for forgiveness, my two big girls always answer with “I forgive you, Mommy.  I’ll always forgive you.”

Most days I don’t look very glamorous.  Most days I’m in workout clothes or pajamas (eek).  Most days we stay home and don’t do anything very exciting.  Most days there are chores to do. But in my daughters’ eyes I’m pretty fun.  They laugh at my lame jokes.  They think I’m pretty, and they could care less about how much I weigh or what size shorts I wear.  Even after I’ve yelled at them all day they still want hugs and cuddles and bedtime stories.  In my daughters’ eyes I’m their world.  I’m their teacher.  I’m their friend.  I’m their nurse.  I’m their example.  I’m their entertainment.  I’m their tucker-inner and rock-to-sleeper.  I’m their mom – their only mom, and they think I’m pretty great.

I know all this is true not only when I look into my daughters’ eyes but because I have a pretty great mom myself who was all of these things and more to me.  She always lived in the moment.  She always had time for us.  She always made things fun.  She taught us how to be brave and good and love Jesus.  She taught us how to love and be open and honest and share our feelings. She still often reminds me to slow down and enjoy my life and my kids.  So, thanks, Mom!  You’re the best.

So, to all the moms out there… YOU.ARE.AWESOME.  Just ask your kids 🙂