Mama, Mommy, Mom, Mother....

I received the following in an email from my mom....I swear, it could not have come on a more appropriate day. The last little poem is something I added...I found it online a while ago but am sharing it with you now because, well, it was something that I needed to read today. I also added a few little one-liners on motherhood I've collected over the past few years. Enjoy!!

.........................................

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and20happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'

And get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best..'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

....................................

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom

...................................

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

..................................

Cleaning your house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.-- Unknown

I don't need to be rich, my children are my treasures.-- Myrna Jean Johnson

The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.-- Jill Churchill

If at first you don't succeed, do it like your mother told you.--Unknown

Life, Love and laughter; What priceless gifts to give our children
-- Phyllis Dryden

.................................

Mother of Twins Prayer

There's two to wash, there's two to dry;

There's two who argue, there's two who cry.

One's in the mud, having a ball;

The other holds a crayon...another marked wall.

Some days seem endless, my patience grows thin.

Why did God choose me to be a mother of twins?

The answer comes clear- at the end of the day,

As I tuck them in bed and to myself I say...

There are two to kiss, there are two to hug;

And best of all, there are two to love.

...................................

Mom....thank you for letting me know that I'm doing okay....even though I feel completely inadequate for the task, as is evidenced by the laundry piling up waiting to be folded, hung up, and put away....and the carpet that is waiting to be vacuumed (for the fourth time today)....and the dishwasher that needs to be emptied so that I can load the dirty dishes that have filled the kitchen sink.

It's good to know that you believe in me, and it's good to get a reminder that there is much, much more than housework to being a "real" mom.