There is Nothing like a Mother's Wisdom

I did not appreciate what words of wisdom my mother said to me until I became a mother myself. When she would give me advice I would just let it go into one ear, stop slightly in the other before making an exit into the endless void of her other bit and pieces of advice.

Time passed and I slowly was realizing the words of wisdom started to ring true in my ears than they did before when I was younger. I found out my mother was not as out of it, as I once thought.

The day finally came when I discovered I was going to be a mother myself. I knew right away what kind of mother I wanted to be to my child. It seemed the words, I'm pregnant did not fully get out of my mouth when the streams of advice came flooding in like a dam breaking. Everyone I came into contact with, even total strangers had bits of advice for me. I became quickly overwhelmed. The only person I wanted was my mother. There is something about moms that makes us feel better. No one does it like mom.

I had a rough pregnancy; I was on bed rest for the whole nine months. I was very fortunate, my husband and I lived with my parents while we were waiting for our home to be remodeled upon our wedding to the birth of my first child. I had access to my mother twenty four seven. I felt as if I were going nuts being cooped in the house. I had to beg my doctor to let me travel a half an hour for holiday celebrations. My mother sensed I was worried and bored; she told me in the way only a mother could to enjoy my rest now; once the baby arrived I would not be able to sleep sound or take a long break again.

The baby did arrive and we took her to her new home. I was nervous the first few days; I wanted to be the best mom that I could be to my new baby. I wanted to do everything right; I felt I had big shoes to fill. The first night our daughter cried and cried; we fed her too much. My mom sensed I was nervous and she told me to relax; that all would be fine. If the baby felt me relax then she would to. It worked. Once again, mom was right. I asked her what the key to being a great mother is; she told me that you just know. Know? Know what? What kind of answer is that? I thought. She said that you become intoned to your baby; you get to know the cries and what they mean. The key is to relax and be patient.

I thought doing those two things should be easy enough to do. They are not as easy as I thought. My mom is still there for me giving me advice; bringing attention to things that I may overlook or overreact. She does it with grace, kindness, and most of all love. I sit back at times and wonder what my children will think of me. I start to question myself at times; am I filling those shoes? I hope when my children are older they will think-no one does it like mom.