This Is For the Moms

This is for the moms.

The one that carries, the one that carried and lost,

The one that’s raising, the one that’s raised and let go

For the one that adopted and the one that birthed

For the one that’s always there

For the one that had to say goodbye

For the under-appreciated, tired, job never done but ever-demanding

Hard-working

Loving Mom.


Thank You

Thank you for the expected.

For packing snacks, changing diapers, wiping noses and behinds

For peanut butter lollipops and PB&J’s

For cut-up fruit, cups filled up, clean dishes and toilet seats

For loving the second the same as the first

For tying shoes, buying groceries, battling stains and dusting shelves

For losing sleep and listening to make-believe

For holding hands and whole bodies

For cold rags to foreheads, 7 Up, saltines and making us feel better

For wiping tears and applying un-needed Band-Aids

 

Thank you for the time.

For rocking tired bodies to sleep, and watching Sesame Street

For capturing moments on video and snapping photos

For singing songs and reading stories

For sitting and for waiting

For painting nails, cutting hair, twisting braids and dying strands

For warming bottles and spooning bites

For being our chauffeur and biggest fan

For trips to the ER and imaginary trips to the moon

For patience and worrying

For listening and music

For buying us pencils and backpacks and 5,000 glue sticks

For helping us learn

And for all the times when you didn’t know how to help

For growing us, feeding us, cleaning us, keeping us, catching us, and letting us go

 

Thank you for the example.

For putting on a swim suit and swimming

For jumping on the trampoline

For praying and reading and listening

For crying

And being real

And kind

And honest

And imperfect, though I never noticed

Thank you

For building LEGO sets, blowing up green Army men, playing Barbies, go-fish, war and Monopoly

Thank you

For working

For juggling

For serving

For balancing

For trying

 

Thank you for the lessons.

For wooden spoons and noses stuck in corners

For soapy mouths and boundaries and rules

And curse words

And not cursing

Thank you

For saying no

And knowing when to say yes

Thank you

For loving dad

Respecting him and respecting your parents

Thank you

For letting us fail and loving us the same

 

Thank you for persevering and for praying

Thank you for the imperfections

Thank you for the praise and forgiveness

Thank you for the raising and the letting go

For the way you love us still

Thank you for coffee dates and shopping trips

For handwritten notes and gas money

For flowers on Valentine’s Day and birthday cake

Thank you

For the way you now love the children that make you grand

Because I didn’t appreciate you the way you deserved then

In the middle of needing you

Draining you

Demanding of you

The same way they can’t appreciate me now

 

Breathe in these words

Let them saturate your tired body, doubting mind, and weak will

You’re loved

You’re appreciated

You matter

You are good enough

You are the perfect mom.


Perfect for the ones you have and for the ones you lost.  

Perfect for the ones you’re yet to have and for the ones you’ve let go …

You.

Are.

 

About the author: Jamie is a small town Kansas girl who has called Kansas City home for the past 12 years. Wife to her perfect match times 10 years. She is a part-time nurse, working the weekend nights, and a homeschooling mom of two – Ethan (9) and Charlie Grace (7). They keep her running, questioning, learning and are the biggest blessings in the everyday.

Find Jam on her blog at http://www.reflected.me, on Twitter @G4Jamie and Instagram @Jamieg4.