Happy Mother's Day! - Some Mom Stuff to Love

With this special holiday fast approaching, I find myself ruminating over Mom stuff to love.

I love homemade Mother's Day cards from my daughters. I love the little coupons good for "One day with no bickering" or "One house cleaning" that when I try to redeem are met with terms and limitations in the fine print that I obviously missed.

I love watching mothers with their children. I love the more relaxed, seasoned moms that have learned from experience and manage to do a great job with several children. I love those first time moms with their brand new little blessings, who today sanitize everything that comes in contact with their precious baby; the rest of us know that with a few years and a couple more kids under her belt she'll hardly bat an eye when Baby Number Three is sitting in the grass eating dirt.

I love that I still have not only a mother but also a grandmother in my life. I love visiting my mother-in-law's grave, where I get to lay flowers and thank the woman I never met for the son she raised to be my husband.

I love that my husband takes the time to tell me I'm a great Mom; a sentiment that is always there, but can sometimes go without being said in the shuffle of everyday life.

I love fresh spring flowers. I love that Mother's Day signals an approaching summer season.

I love what has come to be known as the Mom Song, by Anita Renfroe. Go listen to it here. If you have kids, play it loud and often.

No matter what your personal "Mom status" we can all come up with something to appreciate this Mother's Day.

If you are a mother, know that God gave you the little people He did for a reason. Do your very best, and He will pick up where we leave off. Be grateful for your children, and be grateful that God's commandment to "Honor Thy Father and Mother" doesn't include "...unless..."

There is no end to the joys of raising children. Good thing too, because there is also seemingly no end to the ways they will try your patience. The old "enjoy them while you can" is trite, cliched, and so very true. Try to live in the moment with your children, no matter what that moment is like. Remember that even during difficult times your children are learning and growing. Know that for all their childish shortcomings, they will grow up and likely grow out of it, perhaps even before you're done paying off the house. When you can't figure out exactly what to do next, just love them.

If you have a great mother, there is likely to be many bits of wisdom and humor she imparted as you were growing up. You probably had loving but firm discipline, a comfortable home, nice chats, a shoulder to cry on, and your own personal cheerleader. No one loves you like Mom does, and with her you have the most satisfying and enduring friendship you will ever know.

If your wonderful mother has passed away, you have an angel in Heaven watching over you. She has given you warm memories of a beautiful relationship to help guide you when creating your own home's atmosphere and a relationship with your own children.

If your mother was less than terrific, you have a blueprint for how not to raise your own kids. Learn from the mistakes you know were made and be grateful for them, for you know firsthand how not to repeat them.

If your mother is like most, she's caught somewhere between the saint and the sinner. Here is the best of both worlds; your experiences run the gamut of good, bad, and ugly. Replicate in your own life what you love about your mom, and vow to do differently those things that weren't so great. Kiss your mom for the wonderful ways she has about her, and forgive her for those which are lacking somehow. Part of growing up is realizing that Mom is human, too.