Cinco de Mayo Celebrates
Mexico’s Independence

Most know that for Mother’s Day I rarely include recipes. Why add more work to a weekend designed to celebrate precious women who deserve a break? As I often do, I received a fitting tribute that I want to share this week. It says it all. (Thanks Cindy.)

For The Mothers

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 alright honey, Mommy’s here.” For those who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can’t be comforted. For 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 the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don’t. This is for mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And mothers who took those babies and gave them homes. And for mothers who lost their baby in that precious nine months that they will never get to watch grow on earth but one day will be reunited with in Heaven.

For the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for 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 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.

For mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn’t find the words. This is for the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For mothers who read “Goodnight, Moon” twice a night for a year. And then read it again. “Just one more time.”

For 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 mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. 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 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 step-mothers who raised another woman’s child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love...sometimes totally unappreciated!

For mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green. For mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For 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 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 she feels when she watches her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 a.m. to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2a.m. when she just wants to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in her home? Or the need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she 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.

 

Don’t forget your copy of “Lovin’ Spoonful . . . Cooking With Family and Friends,” a compilation of nearly 400 mouth-watering recipes by Sherrie Norris. It is available at all locations of High Country Media – Boone, Banner Elk, West Jefferson, and at The Avery Journal in Newland, all Boone Drugs, Black Bear Books, Trailway Laundry, Wilcox Emporium,( top level, booth 312-W,) and beginning June 15 at Mast Store locations.