"Motherhood"
A mother holds her childrens' hands for awhile, but their hearts forever.

"A Mother's Midnight Prayer"

Help me remember, when I feel it's a chore,
The time will come when I'll hold baby no more,
Asleep on my chest, the crib refused, the blanket,
the pacifier, gone unused.
What better place is there to lay baby's head
Than against my heart, my arms her bed?
For children grow up and leave us behind
With only memories left to remind us
Of midnight walking and predawn rocking,
Of sweet, crying babies unable to sleep.
So, keep me patient and keep me awake
While I cradle this dear child,
And don't let me begrudge another long night
With this baby, my darling, my joy, my delight.

With thanks to the original author,
Jan Dunlap

"A Mother's Beatitudes"

* Blessed is the mother who understands her child, for she
shall inherit a kingdom of memories.

  * Blessed is the mother who knows how to comfort, for she shall
possess a child's devotion.

  * Blessed is the mother who guides by the path of
righteousness, for she shall be proud of her offspring.

  * Blessed is the mother who is never shocked, for she shall
receive confidences.

  * Blessed is the mother who teaches respect,
for she shall be respected.

  * Blessed is the mother who emphasizes the good and minimizes
the bad, for in like manner the child himself shall make evaluations.

  * Blessed is the mother who treats her child as she would be
treated, for her home shall be filled with happiness.

  * Blessed is the mother who answers simply the startling
questions, for she shall always be trusted.

  * Blessed is the mother who has character strong enough to
withstand the thoughtless remarks and resentments
of the growing child, for, in due time,
  she shall be honored.

by Leonora Zearfoss

"The Mom's Prayer"

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray my sanity to keep.

For if some peace I do not find, 

I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet far from the daily family riot.

May I lie back--not have to think about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where they're at and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself--(Did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed--(Oh no another goldfish dead!!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake--(Did I just hear a window break?)

And that I need not cook or clean--(Well heck, I've got the right to dream)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep, I pray my wits about me keep,

But as I look around I know--I must have lost them long ago!

"Forgive Me"

Oh tender child forgive me,
for my grown up adult ways,
my unyielding busy mind,
and all my wasted days,

forgive my lack of innocence,
and my lack of adventure too,
and for the times I don't notice,
how life is for you.

I try to be the guiding one,
always in the lead,
forgive my lack of insight
to see just what you need.

I look back to a yesterday,
and then it comes to mind,
a moment that I looked away
as you tried to share a find.

Now my heart is heavy
I let that time pass us by,
you think I didn't notice,
just how much you try,

to reach me with your tenderness
and your curiosity too,
I swear, I'll make it up my dear,
I'll make it up to you.

"Before I Was A Mom"

Before I was a Mom,
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted.
I never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom,
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys.
I never forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been . . .
puked on,
pooped on,
spit on,
chewed on,
peed on,
or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom,
I had complete control of my mind, thoughts and body.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so that doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby
just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to
make sure all was okay.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never known . . .
the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment,
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much . . .

... before I was a Mom.

- Author Unknown

"The Night Before Christmas For Moms"

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chitchat."
The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,
She'll cook, she'll dust. She also is wise.

She'll mop every mess with a wink and a snap
You can watch the soaps & perhaps take a nap
"My dream come true!" "I'll read..I'll shop!
I'll talk on the phone & never stop.

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy? I'm scared, I'm cold and I'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "she knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."
That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,"
Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight.
Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

"Only One Mother"

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

~George Cooper~

To My Mother

You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.

- Robert Louis Stevenson -

The phrase "working mother" is redundant.
 -Jane Sellman-

Nobody knows of the work it makes
to keep the home together.
Nobody knows of the steps it takes,
Nobody knows but Mother.
--Anonymous

***

Who is getting more pleasure from this rocking, the baby or me?
--Nancy Thayer

***

Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to
decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your
body.
--Elizabeth Stone

***

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
--Lin Yutang

*Real* Mothers

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have
sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know
what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer
when a little voice says "because I love you the bestest."

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured in height
or years or school grade......
It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom!

"A Mother's Love" graphic courtesy of Victorian Backgrounds and Images.
Blinkie courtesy of Marthaville Graphics.
Thank you Moon And Back Graphics and Tom Sierak Gallery.

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