Mother’s
Day
"Once upon a memory someone wiped away a tear,
held me close and loved me, Thank you, Mother dear."
Author Unknown
A very special day indeed! While it’s great to pamper each other as family members all the year through, a special day to celebrate moms and all the little things they do is also incredibly important and a lot of fun for all!
At Earthy Family we LOVE to celebrate moms and motherhood and we invite you to, too!
Share your stories:
We often hear the downside of parenting, and mothering in particular, in our culture. We hear how hard it is to balance careers and families, how unappreciated the job often is, how difficult it is to find time for the self. And while all of these troubles have their basis in reality for many people, Mothering can also be divine and splendid and absolutely fun. Often undervalued by our culture, Mothering – as both a job and a role – needs to be celebrated. So Let’s!
Share a story or poem or even just a thought about how Mothering is good. Celebrate the life of being a mom with other Earthy Family websurfers and share the celebration of life that being a mom is.
To submit a story, poem or even just a thought of motherhood with us, click here.
We will post all applicable sharings for the entire month of May on our site, in proud celebration of Motherhood.
Invite a friend to share their thoughts.
A
mother understands what a child does not say.
- Jewish proverb
Visit these sites for Mother's Day Gifts:
Pure Potent WOW - Natural aromatherapy products from essential oils to luxurious bath and body products. We highly recommend the Pure Potent WOW products line.
Gift Baskets Delivery - Have a special gift basket delivered to mom on Mother's Day. Items can include spa products, gourmet foods, teddy bears, fruit and more.
Mother's Day Flowers - Professional flower bouquets delivered to mom's door. |
Our Mother
© Robert B Whiter 8th May 2005
How special is a mother? With a smile so soft and warm,
Her haven from a hostile world, a port in any storm.
She cooks, she mends, she washes, and that’s to name a few,
Of countless undertakings, she willingly can do.
My mum is like a Tugboat, she puts us in our place,
To keep us on an even keel, protect us from disgrace.
Her guiding words they come to me, when others I forget,
The times I took no notice are the ones that I regret.
Was times she couldn’t get to me, before I ran aground,
When Mum was awful busy, and yet, she always found.
The time to come and scold me, to push me into place,
Restore me to her chosen spot in this great human race.
How special is a mother, when we’ve been far away,
A welcome to remember awaits that certain day.
When we rejoin that fleet of hers, within that sheltered cove
Where her pushing and her shoving come with unrelenting LOVE.

Parenting
by catherine
When that wiggling little piece of heaven announces arrival into our lives,
There is relief, wonder and joy…
Everyone celebrates, congratulates with oohs and ahhs…
Instinct within wants to touch, to hold, to look, to share
In the energy of beautiful innocence.
In that moment, father and mother become Loves Slave until death…
Bonded by a power that has defied description throughout the ages,
To a part of themselves they no longer own…
They are forever changed, and destined now for a journey
Nothing could ever prepare them for.
Providing basic food, clothing and shelter becomes urgent focus
Protection and training cause them to pour heart and soul into the child
With energy and passion they didn’t know they owned.
Sacrifice and hope, evolve from theory to reason.
Loves’ purpose has changed.
Life can offer no deeper pain than the trials and sorrows of their child.
Fear and rejection cut the widest swath in the relationship.
Weakness, sin, ignorance and error buried within the parent
Are mirrored for all the world to see, in the child,
And truth will not be silenced.
There is no greater teacher in life than the one they teach,
No surer cause for humility, than the one they are proudest of.
The paradox of preparing to let go of what they hold dearest,
Demands all the courage wisdom can give.
There is no dress rehearsal.
Each blessing a child reveals, carries in its arms great burden,
The most complex load a person was ever glad to carry.
Moment by moment the bond grows through the years,
Rising above al conflict, stayed in victory, always
Calling the heart to believe.
Please receive this moment of gratitude…of honour Mom and Dad,
For the strength and virtue…the knowledge and truth
That found its way through the course of life from your hearts
To mine…and bond you forever to me, in harmony
With my freedom.
-catherine

Flight
by ~Alicia Bayer
www.magicalchildhood.com
I know women
who would lose their children
like throwing off a robe,
unbraiding a red ribbon
and discarding it, to let
their wild self fly free.
I know women
who put aside their children
like cheap jewelry by the side of the bed.
I know women
who never seem to wear them at all.
My girls, I do not want
to be free of you.
You are like my wedding rings
which I could have easily slipped out of but wear every day that my heart beats.
I want you near me.
My girls, my husband,
when I see a sunset
I want these two eyes
to be part of the eight who see it.
I want our laughter and stories
to be so tangled
that our memories weave into one dream.
This is my time with you.
Soon enough, you will be off
swimming your own new seas.
Soon enough, we will step back and watch you blooming and bursting in solitary ways in your own fresh, separate skins.
How could I waste this?
Oh my darlings, you are not my cage.
You are my wings.

A Celebration of Motherhood By Nicole Bowles
I am a mother of two children: a four year old son and a 20 month old daughter. I always make it a point to tell my children that I love them. In fact, from the moment they were in the womb I would talk to them daily always singing and talking and sharing love. It must have rubbed off because everyday my 4 year old son tells me he loves me at least 5 times a day without prompts good or bad, rain or shine. This love also leads to a daily "love fest" where we sit together and basically hug and kiss each other until we get sick from the sweetness. I am so glad that you get back what you give..I have two blessing from God and that is my celebration of motherhood.
Mother's
Story by Lyndsay Blais
As a mother
of four amazing and unique girls, I am often reminded that
they are not only learning about themselves and the world
as the grow up – make no mistake about it, they are
taking mental notes and forming their opinions about motherhood
based on watching me day to day...they ask questions like
“Is it fun being a mom? Mom’s have to work really
hard all the time don’t they...” while at first
I was caught off guard, pleased for a moment that all my efforts
were being noticed, perhaps even appreciated – I soon
realized that my attitude is so much more important than the
actual accomplishments of the daily and often mundane tasks
of laundry, cooking, cleaning and working...while there never
seems to be enough hours in the day to get it all done, the
special moments tucking my little ones into bed and hearing
about their day, what they are challenged by and even afraid
of could easily be lost as I say, "I’ll be there
in a minute, I just have one more load of laundry to put in...or
let me just finish the dishes...” by then the moment
may well have passed. Fortunately, my girls are great teachers,
and instead of missing out, I heard one say as I walked out
the bedroom door tonight, “Thanks for taking the time
to listen mom, I feel better, and I really enjoy our talks
– love you...” I ask you, what’s more rewarding
than that? The dishes will still be there tomorrow : ) Happy
mother’s day!

Mother's
Story by Betty Bach (a mother's poem)
My
Wonderful Sons
I'll offer some words about being a mother,
Such a privilege, an honor, compare to no other.
Not one son but two, what absolute bliss,
What have I done to deserve a blessing like this?
Each stage of their lives have laughter and fears,
Moms outstretched arms to wipe away tears.
Preschool years of rattles and blocks,
Lego, John Deeres and puppets from socks.
Nursery school, what a big step to take,
It's our turn for snack - there's cookies to bake.
We had such fun with picnics in the park,
And playing with flashlights late into the dark.
Our favorite ice cream, lickety-lick,
Laughing at lame jokes til we felt oh so sick.
My babies have grown into handsome young men,
With a tear in my eye these words I now pen.
An open door always should welcome them home,
When our children can't figure out where next to roam.
The years fly by quickly, we do our very best,
And before we know it they're leaving the nest.
To become what God has in store for each one,
I thank you Dear Lord, for giving us a son.
Betty Bach
Joshua(19) & Jordan(17)

Mother's
Story submitted by Karen Ritchie
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually
mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting
a family. "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking.
"Do you think I should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping
my tone neutral.
"I
know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends,
no more spontaneous vacations."
But that
is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying
to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will
never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that
the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming
a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that
she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper
without asking, "What if that had been MY child?"
That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That
when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder
if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and
think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a
mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting
her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause
her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a
moments hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years
she has invested in her career, she will be professionally
derailed by
motherhood. She might arrange for child care, but one day
she will be going into an important business meeting and she
will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use
every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just
to make sure her baby is all right. I want my daughter to
know that every day decisions will no longer be routine.
That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room
rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major
dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays
and screaming children, issues of Independence and gender
identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child
molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess
herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that
eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she
will never feel the same about herself.
That her life, now so important, will be of less value to
her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in
a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope
for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch
her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a ceasarean scar or shiny stretch
marks will become badges of honour.
My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but
not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how
much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the
baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think
she should know that she will fall in love with him again
for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with
women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice
and drunk driving.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing
your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her
the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of
a dog or cat for the first time.
I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have
formed in my eyes.
"You'll never regret it," I finally say.
Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand
and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all
the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most
wonderful of callings.
May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

Mother's
Story by Tabitha Tucker
"I
truly enjoy being a mom. My son inspires me to be the best
I can possibly be because I want to make the world a wonderful
place for him to live. Being a mother has taught me so much
– I have learned perserverance, how to communicate more
effectively, how to be absolutely present in each moment,
and how to be an adventurer in life. Mothering fills me with
peace and joy and I feel so enriched by each of my 'mom experiences'."
Mother's
Story by Shirlee Bucknall
My
children are all grown now but being a mother was and is the
most important job I was ever given. The time you have with
your children is so short and goes by so quickly. I am so
glad that I enjoyed every stage of my children's lives. I
now see the influence I have had in their lives, but even
more I see the wonderful influence they have had on me and
the many things they have taught me. I am so fortunate now
to have my children as my best friends. There is no connection
in life more powerful and wondrous as the connection a mother
has with her children.

Mother's
Story by Monika Kinner-Whalen
From
the Diary of a Nursing Mother
Liam is
not born yet. This is my ninth pregnancy and my dearly awaited
second child. My belly is enormous, but my breasts look the
same as before. I wonder if I’m even making milk. I
just can’t wait to nurse again. I nursed my first son
for 15 months, weaning him in order to become pregnant. After
so many losses, I regret weaning him, too soon in my opinion..
>>Read More
No
influence is so powerful as that of the mother.
- Sarah Josepha Hale
To
a child's ear, 'mother' is magic in any language.
- Arlene Benedict, For Mother with Love
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