Happy Mothers Day

Yesterday I got lots of calls.
Happy Mothers Day!
It's nice to be recognized
by your kids
by their friends.
It's nice.
But what's really nice about motherhood
is seeing the adults that you grow.
Although you never want to let go
you have to know...
“But kids don't stay with you if you do it right. 
It's the one job where, 
the better you are, 
the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.” ― Barbara Kingsolver, 
R. is one of these kids.
She exceeds my expectations
of what is good
and right.
Her ability to connect
is a gift we all secretly envy.
She just loves
with all of her heart
no matter who, how old
or what background you may be from.
This comes from being non-judgemental
(she definitely got that from me LOL!!!)
nurturing
(from her father for sure!)
and just plain giving.
This girl makes me proud.
In a million ways.
Proud to be her Mother
for sure.
Honored to be her friend.

Took me a few hours to make this layout.
Layering
and
inking
and
more layering.
Trying to use up all my stash
before I allow myself to buy more.
That could take years
but I am determined.
(well maybe not ALL my stash.
come on lets be realistic.)

Happy Birthday Shlam.

I read a great book this weekend.
The Light Between The Oceans by M.L. Stedman.
It is about the all consuming desire of motherhood
regardless of personal pain, sacrifice and lies.
Great read.
Thought provoking.
Having children is undoubtedly the greatest gift of life.
The ultimate leap of faith.
Trusting that the world
in to which we bring this child,
will provide them with great things.
A joy as deep as pain.
An agony as exhilarating as pleasure.
When you make loving and caring for others
the story of your life
there is never a final chapter.
The joy continues on always.
Page after page.
When they were young
I was their teacher
but as they grow older
I am more often the student.
The older generation has a different take on this.
When I gently protest to my mother
"Ma, I'm a middle aged woman.
I think I know what I'm doing."
She responds
"I'm still older than you."
Toni Morrison writes in Beloved
"Grown don't mean a thing to a mother.
A child is a child.
They get bigger, older, but grown?
What's that supposed to mean?
In my heart it don't mean a thing."
Yet I still maintain my children can teach me much.
Shlam, you teach me to have empathy.
Understanding of differences.
Acceptance.
Perseverance.
You show me
that being your mother
is (and I quote)
"finding a piece of yourself 
separate and apart
that all the same
you could not live without" -jodi picoult
Happy Birthday Shlam.
May this year bring you
wonder and joy
new experiences
and what every mother wants
HAPPINESS.
Love you.

Being a mother is the great gift of life...