Being a mom can be tough sometimes. It’s hard when, like last night, my daughter starts playing with my son’s Legos and he gets mad because she broke some of the pieces off. Then they both fight for their cause until we need to send them to their rooms to cool off. It’s hard when, like yesterday, my daughter wanted to play with the neighbor friend who was over and did not want to finish her homework. Or practice cello. Or go to school. It’s hard when my two girls want the same toy, which my 6-year-old may or may not have had first, and my 4-year-old bursts into the tears of injustice. It’s hard trying to teach, for the 20th time, why we don’t call somebody “mean” just because they don’t want to play the same thing we want to play right when we want to play it.
On the other hand, being a mom can fill me so much with joy I don’t know how I can possibly keep it all in. These are the moments that make it all worthwhile. Like when Zach asked to go running with me on Monday morning and then that night when I asked him what his favorite part of the day was and he said “Running with you.” Then he set his alarm early so we could do it again the next morning. Or going to his first piano recital on Thursday night and watching him do what he has been practicing for weeks to do, feeling so nervous about it. Then afterwards, when I asked how it went and he said, “I loved it.” Or when Ellie and I were driving home from her cello lesson after a rain storm, and the sun was coming out, and she wanted to look for rainbows in the sky. Then, with her curious mind, she started asking me questions about all the biggest things on earth. Or watching her draw a beautiful picture on a Mother’s Day card with the most creative flowers and colorful sky. Or when Addie gets lost in her own land of play, having conversations between dolls or ponies or whatever for what seems like hours on end. Or when she laid down on my bed this morning and looked at me and said, “Mom, I don’t ever want another Mommy. I love you so much.” Or watching them laugh and be silly together. That might just be the best part.
It seems that the greatest things in life are the things that take a little hard work, a little sacrifice, and a great deal of patience. I am so grateful for my opportunity to work hard and sacrifice and be patient for these beautiful, amazing little ones. That’s the only road to the gifts they constantly give me of love and joy and wonder as I watch them grow into the people they were always meant to be.
To the moms in my life–thank you for your sacrifices and for everything you teach me and for your love. I am so grateful for you. Happy Mother’s Day.
