The Second (should have been posted yesterday)

May 8th, 2010

Dear Mothers who came before me and mothers coming after me,

First, mothers who have come before me - how on Earth did you do it?  Such an awesome responsibility was placed in your hands and yet the world is still turning.  Your children were raised and are now raising their own.  Did you ever get down, forget to smile and just want to cry?  Did you know what you were doing or did you just wing it?  Moreso, when you look back, are you happy?  Do you feel like you did a just performance with the part you played in the lives of your chidlren?
Thank you, thank you for continually striving to help provide us with something to look up to, a guide post of sorts.  Helping those like me find a way in such a scarey terrain.  Thank you for the smiles, the gracious words, and moreso for the knowledge and understanding of what I face when I look up from my child screaming in Wal-Mart to see that all knowing twinkle in your eye (the lady who sliced my meat at the deli counter this weekend - that was for you!) - I take comfort.  You forged roads that I now walk upon and the relief I feel due to that is overwhelming - once again - I express my deep gratitude.

Now - to those coming after me -

Brace yourself - are you ready for this?  MOTHERHOOD IS HARD WORK!  Big surprise, right?  Seriously, though, you wake up worrying about everything.  What should you feed your children?  How should you dress your children?  What school should they go to?  Are they smart as the other kids in their age group?  Will that song with slightly suggestive lyrics playing on the speakers at Applebees ruin your child's moral character for life?  Will the crayon he just ate make him sick?  Should you call the Dr?  Should her skirt be that short?  Like I said, you will worry.
With that being said - everything will work out, somehow your child will survive.  Better yet, they will flourish.  So relax and enjoy, every season brings  a new adventure.  Don't worry as much and laugh more.  Be silly and play with your kids. Know that no matter what you do your kids will always love you but ensure they know that no matter what they do you will always love them.  Raise them to know that your expectations of them are only for them to learn, grow, and find what path fits them.  Stop dream of your future Doctor, Lawyer or Scientist, and start realizing that regardless of the path they choose - the will be fine as long as they find happiness. 
Don't be hard on yourself.  If they eat cheese and pop tarts for lunch here and there, it will be ok.  If they fall from a tree and break an arm - it will heal.  If they stay up past their bed time to snuggle and read a book, they will still wake up and go to school the next morning.  In fact I have found those are the moments that both, I and my children, treasure the most.

To all the moms - thank you,
you inspire and uplift me,

Mel P