{"id":13574,"date":"2023-05-14T08:17:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-14T12:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=13574"},"modified":"2023-05-14T08:18:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-14T12:18:00","slug":"what-is-a-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=13574","title":{"rendered":"what is a mom?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One\u2019s mother. <\/em>(Dictionary.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A female parent.<\/em> (Merriam-Webster)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A woman whose egg unites with a sperm, producing an embryo. <\/em>(American Heritage Medicine)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A woman who has borne a child. <\/em>(Webster\u2019s New World)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also significant from Webster\u2019s New World:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stepmother.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An adoptive mother.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is true that we each have a mother; we can\u2019t be born without one. It is also true that we aren\u2019t all capable of being a mother. So let us not fail to celebrate and give gratitude. Let us also not fail to be sensitive to those for whom this is hard. The reality is that our celebration does not exclude nor preclude our sensitivity. (A note for a future blog post: that\u2019s one thing current culture really struggles with\u2026 we get dazed and confused in what we conclude as mutually exclusive\u2026 but alas, we digress..)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we honor our mothers today, allow me a bit of a personal reflection \u2014 just sharing from my experience. Remember, of course, that each of our experiences are different. And that\u2019s ok. It\u2019s actually beautiful, too. We learn from one another\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My story is such that I have the very humbling joy and privilege to be the mother to three budding young men. Their gifts and personalities are distinct; we each have great, trusting relationships. No girls in my family. I figure God knew what he was doing as I still can\u2019t tie a bow.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when my oldest was born, I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I felt this immediate, almost unconditional love for him. It\u2019s like it came out of nowhere! It soon dawned on me that my mom must have felt that, too. That instant, agape kind of love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he was not even one and sent off in the ambulance due to emergency, unexplainable seizures, I remember never feeling fear like that before. This was different. This was deeper. I was so scared. I needed to trust in more than me, as this situation was so out of my control. I have no doubt I must have scared the living daylights out of my mom, too, some days. Not all my decisions were wise ones.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That fear only intensified when my youngest would fight for his life only five years later. Talk about a situation being out of our control. I learned then the intensity of a mother\u2019s fear\u2026 even when the kid has no idea. Even when the mom says nothing. My older sons couldn\u2019t see my fear. Sometimes as a mom it became oh-so-clear that it was not about me. It wasn\u2019t. My mom knew that, too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember, also, all those major pride moments\u2026 striking out the side, dancing the best routine of their life, going to prom, picking out a new car, or maybe the first time my youngest with special needs was successful at cooking eggs (including a wee bit of egg shell, of course). \u201cYou celebrate each kid exactly where they are.\u201d No competition involved. I know now how proud my mom must have been.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s those big moments, the really big ones\u2026 when they graduate, choose a college, get that first job with a real paycheck with more than a singular zero. It\u2019s fun to watch them \u2014 fun to watch them gain confidence in themselves, become increasingly more self-aware\u2026 again, even if they don\u2019t notice we are watching. I know my mom was watching me. Sharing in that pride, no doubt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there\u2019s that leaving home. Ah, yes. That\u2019s a harder one. But we\u2019ve trained them for this \u2014 encouraged them to be independent. It\u2019s time. And so we affirm and hug and say our goodbyes \u2014 but as soon as that car pulls out of the drive, the silent tears begin to more generously flow. I know my mom cried them, too. Those are good tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there\u2019s something special about a mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me say again for some moms, I know this is a hard day.  There is still something deeply special about you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One\u2019s mother. (Dictionary.com) A female parent. (Merriam-Webster) A woman whose egg unites with a sperm, producing an embryo. (American Heritage Medicine) A woman who has borne a child. (Webster\u2019s New World) Also significant from Webster\u2019s New World: A stepmother. An adoptive mother. It is true that we each have a mother; we can\u2019t be born … <\/p>\n

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