Ten Things....

Here are the final two items in the list.

9.            She put you first.

Of course she did!  When her friends wanted to go to a movie or dinner, she said no because you had your fourth grade open house.  When she saw a new pair of shoes or dress that she wanted, she didn’t get them because the budget was tight and you wanted a new dress for the dance.  Instead of pursuing her career, she chose to stay home with you and care for you herself.  Please do not be offended by that last sentence.  It is just one example of how a mom can put her child first.  It is not meant to criticize moms who work or go to school.  There are good reasons why some moms need to make that choice.  Often when that is the case, the working mom makes many other sacrifices for her child.  When she wasn’t feeling good and you came home and wanted to talk about your day, she smiled as if nothing was wrong and listened carefully. 

In everything she did, she put your needs ahead of hers.  It didn’t matter what it was that you needed.  Because of all of the love that a mother carries for her child, she puts herself and her needs to the side to provide for that child at that time. 

10.          She would do it all again.

I can honestly say, “I would do it all again!”  I would hope that if I could turn back the hands of time, I might choose to do some things differently, but I would do it again.  I wouldn’t miss being pregnant, giving birth, watching the miracles and wonders of a child, feeling my heart overflow with love, laughing until I cried, crying because it hurt, swelling with pride at their achievements, seeing them become independent, sending them to college, having them start their own families. 

I have had people tell me that I wasted my college education because I chose to stay home with my kids.  I never saw it as a waste.  Knowing the challenges, laughter and tears that I shared with them…  I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN!!