Mother is a verb

Flashback to Mother's Day in the year 2000. I'm at brunch with my mom, sister & her husband, their new baby...at my sister's in-laws house. My sister's fil makes a toast. Happy Mother's Day, he says to each woman, clinking her glass with his. To his wife, happy mother's day. To my sister, happy mother's day. To our mom, happy mother's day...but not to YOU because you're not a mom -- he addresses the last part to me, chuckles and sits back down. Knowing him, he probably avoided clinking my glass just to make a humorous point.

Ass clown.

I felt hurt after he pointed out the fact that I didn't have children. I smirked & didn't say anything, just to keep the peace. Not that it matters, but I'm older than my sister. There's no competition between us, but some of you can probably relate to being the older sibling and not doing some of life's milestones before the younger. Birth order inevitably flashes across one's mind at least once. Aaaand I wasn't even seeing anyone special at the time. Hell, I wasn't seeing anyone, period. I clearly haven't forgiven 100% since I'm bringing this up after 10 years. However, I have to say that my slighted feelings slipped away within minutes at that time. It was replaced by my long standing belief that all women are capable of being mothers. If you have are female, you have the potential to be a mother. I'm not referring to the biological possibility of whether or not one can/will bear children. Because we know that not all women who bear children are mothers. When I think of being a mother, I often think of the action.

I'm eternally grateful to my mother who is always there for me, even in the times she doesn't know what to say or how to fix 'it.' I think of the woman on the bus who taught me how to crochet when I was in elementary school. Lots of friends, but one in particular who was a steady presence for me in my 20s. Kind of like Felicity's friend that she used to send recordings back-and-forth with. And my mom's neighbor who agreed that I could have some of her fresh aloe plant, but insisted on cutting and bagging it for me. Those are fleeting examples of all of the women -- in addition to my mom -- who have mothered me over the years. I'm so thankful to them. So...if you have held a child in your lap, taken care of a relative, hugged a hurt friend, dried someone's tears, taught someone or held a hand to guide another...whether you're single, married, young, old, with children or without...you have been a mother.

Happy Mother's Day

Thank you desk wallpapers

♥