An Open Letter to My Children

My Dear Dynamic Duo,

As Mother’s Day approaches and you scurry to find the perfect perfumed soap with which to surprise me, I have an issue I would like to settle. If you think setting aside one day a year to say thanks to me makes us even you are very mistaken.

My mothering career began with buckets of tears shed before God for over a year, begging for the blessing of children. The tears continued when I received that phone call from the doctor’s office informing me of my “condition.” I was so full of gratitude and praise I had to hang up the phone. I soaked one entire dish towel before I calmed down. Of course, nausea followed, along with difficulty sleeping, weird cravings (Peanut Butter Cups and Big Macs – real nutritious!), and a very low tolerance for anything remotely annoying.

The strain of motherhood continued with the birth of my first, you know who you are. I never heard of any baby having colic for seven months until I met you! Your constant need for my presence meant almost no time alone for the first two years of your life. We ate together, napped together, read together, even had tea parties together. For you, no one mattered but me.

Then came baby number two. Although decidedly less emotional than the first, you also were in need of my constant presence. I invested in a baby backpack where you resided for most of nearly every day until you were able to walk. You watched me cook dinner, fold laundry, and brush your sister’s hair from that vantage point.

Through the following years, I refereed fights, negotiated deals, built with legos, served tea, planned amazing birthday parties (If I do say so myself), read more books and packed more bags than I will ever be able to count. You stretched my patience beyond where I thought it would stretch. I have been the punch line of countless jokes, chauffer to endless activities, teacher of subjects I never thought I knew well, and functioned on less sleep than science tells us is possible. You two have asked some of the most challenging questions that forced me to dive into scripture for answers on a regular basis. Why don’t we baptize babies at our church? How can Grandpa be all the way up in Heaven and not miss us? What is “sex” and why is it such a big deal?

So, do you actually think a gift and dinner out will ever make us even? It is not possible. I will forever be in your debt. You have added a dimension and texture to my life that will never cease to amaze and bless me. The challenges we have faced together have strengthened me spiritually and emotionally. I now have a glimpse of what amazing things one person can do, with God's help, to show love to others. It is because of you I can sign this letter:

Love,

MOM