First Mother's Day.....

This is the e-mail I sent to my dear friends who have had their first baby this year....

To all my friends on their first Mother's Day.....

I just wanted to wish you a happy first Mother's Day and tell you how proud I am of you and the beautiful children you have produced.

In the past year, you have done so many amazing things - birthing children, raising them, caring for them when they are sick, teaching them, and playing with them.

I am constantly in awe of all that you do - if you step back and think about it, I think you will be too. Would you ever have imagined that you would able to juggle so many things in a day? Would you ever have thought that it would be so difficult or that it would bring you such joy to be a mother?

You have all struggled with different things and with some of the same things. Every one of you has managed to deal with these things in your own way and your children are all still happy, thriving babies. This is a testament to your mothering instinct. No matter what you read on the internet, advice you get from well-meaning people (someone like me perhaps?), or find in a "What to expect" book - you are ultimately the person who must manage the issue, solve the problem, and/or stay up all night with the crying baby. You are the front line, day-to-day, 'round the clock worker who has to think on her feet, solve problems sleep deprived, and remember all the necessities when you leave the house. You go to appointments, remember important milestones, and teach your child the things they need to know as they grow. You are the one who must comfort a terrified or hurting child, remember when they last ate, and decide when they are sick enough to go to the doctor. You are quite simply - superhuman.

Day in and day out - I am so glad to have such wonderful mothers for my friends.

You were my friends long before you were mothers and I loved you for the people you were then - but now I have another reason to love you - for the mother you have become. You have produced adorable children for me to love and in doing so I have seen you morph into someone who I admire for a totally different reason. You are a mother.

So, on the day when we honor those who gave us life - my friends - I honor you - for being brave enough to give life to someone else and for taking on the responsibility of teaching your child about this amazing world we live in.

May each day with your child bring you new joys and more love......
Happy Mother's Day.