This is for the mothers who have sat up all night
>with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf
>laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid
>saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."
>
>Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end
>soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
>
>This is for all the mothers who show up at work with
>spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their
>blouses and diapers in their purse.
>
>For all the mothers who run carpools and make
>cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the
>mothers who DON'T.
>
>This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies
>they'll never see. And the mothers who took those
>babies and gave them homes.
>
>This is for the mothers whose priceless art
>collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
>
>And for all the mothers who froze their buns on
>metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead
>of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that
>when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they
>could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for
>the world," and mean it.
>
>This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids
>in the grocery store and swat them in despair when
>they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream
>before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to
>ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
>
>This is for all the mothers who sat down with their
>children and explained all about making babies. And
>for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just
>couldn't find the words.
>
>This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their
>children can eat. For all the mothers who read
>"Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then
>read it again. "Just one more time ."
>
>This is for all the mothers who taught their
>children to tie their shoelaces before they started
>school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro
>instead.
>
>This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to
>cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
>
>This is for every mother whose head turns
>automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a
>crowd, even though they know their own offspring are
>at home -- or even away at college.
>
>This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to
>school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be
>just FINE once they got there, only to get calls
>from the school nurse an hour later asking them to
>please pick them up. Right away.
>
>This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,
>who can't find the words to reach them.
>
>This is for all the step-mothers who raised another
>woman's child or children, and gave their time,
>attention, and love... sometimes to tally unappreciated!
>
>For all the mothers who bite their lips until they
>bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
>
>For all the mothers of the victims of recent school
>shootings, and the mothers of those who did the
>shooting.
>
>For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers
>who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging
>their child who just came home from school, safely.
>
>This is for all the mothers who taught their
>children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home
>safely from a war.
>What makes a good Mother anyway?
>
>Is it patience?
>
>Compassion?
>
>Broad hips?
>
>The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a
>button on a shirt, all at the same time?
>
>Or is it in her heart?
>
>Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or
>daughter disappear down the street, walking to
>school alone for the very first time?
>
>The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from
>bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back
>of a sleeping baby?
>
>The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M.
>when you just want to hear their key in the door and
>know they are safe again in your home?
>
>Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug
>your child when you hear news of a fire, a car
>accident, a child dying?
>
>The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our
>thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through
>diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
>
>And mature mothers learning to let go.
>
>For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
>
>Single mothers and married mothers.
>
>Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for
>you all. For all of us. Hang in there. In the end we
>can only do the best we can. Tell them every day
>that we love them. And pray.
>
>Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.
>
>"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall."