happy mother's day

Tomorrow is mother's day, it will be the 7th one I will have celebrated as a mama. It got me to thinking, what is it exactly that makes someone a mother. I mean, of course, there is the obvious-giving birth-but I think there are other, equally important qualifiers as well. I decided to put together a list (ala Jeff Foxworthy) so you can see if indeed, you might be a mother.

If you have wiped a booty that wasn't yours, you might be a mother.
If you have cleaned up messes that you had no hand in making, you might be a mother.
If you have licked your finger, in order to use it to wipe something off of someone else's face, you might be a mother.
If you cut your finger, and can only find Snoopy band aids to put on it, you might be a mother.
If you find yourself taking orders from someone much smaller than you, that is covered in peanut butter, you might be a mother.
If you cry at cheesy commercials with chubby babies, or romantic movies about true love, you might be a mother.
If you have ever used the words "because I said so!", you are probably a mother.
If you have stretch marks and saggy boobies, and they make you feel proud, you are probably a mother.
If you have earned your laugh lines, you are probably a mother.
If you always put the wants and needs of others before your own, you are probably a mother.
If you have cared about something or someone so much, that it made your heart hurt, you are definitely a mother.
If you have stayed up all night worrying about someone, and can only breathe easy when you know they are ok, you are definitely a mother.
If you have ever been so terrified that your insides actually melted, you are definitely a mother.
If you have comforted others, and provided a safe harbour for them to rest, you are definitely a mother.
If you have seen the best in someone, and encouraged them to do the same, even when it is hard for them to see, you are definitely a mother.
If you have ever looked into the eyes of a child, and felt hope for the future, you are definitely a mother.
If you have looked into the eyes of a monster, and then proceeded to kick it's ass, you are definitely a mother.

Having kids is hard, I think it might just about almost kill you. But then, when you come out at the other end and look back, it is something priceless. There is no amount of money you can put on those mud pies, skinned knees, snuggly mornings, whipped cream feasts (oh yeah we do that!), nothing else in this world that has a value that even comes close. As hard, and dirty, and scary and prickly as it is, there isn't anything I would change. Today the sun was out, the girls played and giggled and picked me daisies all day long. It was a good day.

Happy mother's day Mom, Grandma, Auntie Retta, Aunt Deb, Nikki-I love you ladies so much! Happy mother's day to all of the mamas, I hope your day is amazing, you have earned it! (now go sleep in and then when you decide to get up, demand a Starbucks!)