happy mother's day to all MOTHERS & mothers-to-be

My road to Motherhood started long, long ago! I wasn't much of a babysitter - in fact, I really didn't like kids but, the MOMENT our first son was placed in my arms, I was cured forever. Kids have been 'my life' for the past 40 years - yes, I know it's hard to believe but it's true. I recommend the 'experience' highly - it has shaped 'who' I am today in a huge way. Once selfish and self-centered - I now seldom think of myself at all - which needs a little adjusting as well!

Here are some words and thoughts that reflect what my 40 years of living and loving kids have brought my way:

JUST GETTING THEM HERE:

• pucky sickness that, to-this-day, keeps me from being a fan of fish & certain smells
• so sick I wondered if I was dying & thinking that would be a better opinion than the present condition
• gaining a lot of weight AND twice as much water
• outgrowing my clothes and having to wear hubby's shirts because we were too poor to afford maternity clothing
• never knew skin could stretch that much
• (twice) when things went wrong, laying on the bathroom floor holding small lifeless, perfectly formed human beings in my hands and wishing their hearts would once again beat within me
• came within a hair of loosing my life giving life to my baby
• hours and hours and hours of labor
• natural delivery - all (7)

ONCE THEY ARRIVED SAFELY:

• my heart leaped for joy (7) times when breathing, crying, healthy babies were in my arms
• understood what the word 'lack of sleep' really meant
• became acquainted with the terms roseola measles, chicken pox, mono, stitches, broken bones, ripped off fingernails, bonks, ruptured spleen, bashed in foreheads, 105 degree fevers, slashed tongues, throw-up and more throw-up, sore throats, strep . . . and the list is pretty-much endless
• pure joy at the firsts in their lives - first night sleeping through the night, first roll-over, first tooth, first word, first step, first day of school etc.
• breaking up fights
• praying harder than I'd ever prayed before because I couldn't do it alone
• learning to keep (7) super-active kids fed and clothed
• teaching
• disciplining and showing an increase of love after
• watching my kids get hurt has been the hardest, most challenging part of the gig
• watching their backs
• never-ending piles of laundry
• holding and loving
• watching them make mistakes
• finding out my kids were not perfect
• learning about unconditional love
• when I felt like giving up, forget it - keep going

BTW, these are abbreviated lists. Motherhood for has been long, hard, rewarding, challenging and a perfect match for me!

Now, I think I'll take a rest!!!

*****A letter I wrote to my (6) daughters: *****

I am a blessed woman - I have ALL OF YOU -
MOTHERS & MOTHER-TO-BE . . .
Today I honor:
Kandee-Lou
Hea-due
Ash-O-lee
Whitter
Nic-Cole (mother of Dottie-Boo)
Ka'Trina (mother of Bella-Boo)

Wishing you each a WONDERFUL DAY of being spoiled by your family!
I love you ALL so much and appreciate (because I know) all you do for your
families! The wage is 'low' but reward priceless - something you HAVE TO DO
before leaving this earth because, well - it's an education you can't get anywhere else and in no other way.

I pray for each of you daily, that you'll have the strength to make it through each day, that you will love and care for your little ones with total love and concern. I have enjoyed watching each of you grow and rise to the occasion of guiding and teaching your children - my grand babies. Thank you for that - thank you with all my heart AND have a great, happy and fun day. I'll be thinking about each of you.

I love you each forever - for eternity!

Love MomBerta