ThisisforallthemotherswhoDIDN’TwinMotheroftheYearlastyear,alltherunners-upandallthewannabes,in-cludingthemotherstootiredtoenterortoobusytocare.ThisisforallthemotherswhofrozetheirbunsoffonmetalbleachersatsoccergamesonFridaynight,insteadofwatchingfromcars.Sothatwhentheirkidsasked,“Didyouseemygoal?”Theycouldsay,“Ofcourse,wouldn’thavemisseditfortheworld,”andmeanit.Thisisforallthemotherswhohavesatupallnightwithsicktoddlersintheirarms,wipingupbarflacedwithOscarMayerwienersandcherryKool-Aidsay-ing,“It’sOKhoney,Mommy’shere.”Thisisforthemotherswhogavebirthtobabiesthey’llneversee,andthemotherswhotookthosebabiesandmadethemhomes.Thisisforallthemothersofthevictimsofschoolshootings,andthemothersofthemurderers.Forthemothersofthesurvivors,andthemotherswhosatinfrontoftheirTVsinhorror,huggingtheirchildwhojustcamehomefromschool,safely.ThisisforallthemotherswhoruncarpoolsandmakecookiesandsewHalloweencostumes,andallthemotherswhoDON’T.Whatmakesagoodmotheranyway?Isitpatience?Compassion?Broadhips?Isittheabilitytonurseababy,cookdinner,andsewabuttononashirt,allatthesametime?Orisitheart?Isittheacheyoufeelwhenyouwatchyoursonordaughterdisappeardownthestreet,walkingtoschoolalonefortheveryfirsttime?Isitthejoltthattakesyoufromsleeptodread,asyouboundfrombedtocribat2a.m.toputyourhandonthebackofasleepingbaby?Isittheneedtofleefromwhereveryouareandhugyourchildwhenyouhearnewsofaschoolshooting,afire,acaraccident,orababydying?Ithinkso.Sothisisforallthemotherswhosatdownwiththeirchildrenandexplainedallaboutmakingbabies,andforallthemotherswhowantedtobutjustcouldn’t.Thisisforreading“Goodnight,Moon”twiceanightforayear.Andthenreadingitagain.“Justonemoretime.”Thisisforallthemotherswhomessup,whoyellattheirkidsinthegrocerystoreandswatthemindespairandstomptheirfeetlikeatired2-year-oldwhowantsicecreambeforedinner.Thisisforallthemotherswhotaughttheirdaughterstotietheirshoelacesbeforetheystartedschool.AndforallthemotherswhooptedforVelcroinstead.Thisisforallthemotherswhobitetheirlips-sometimesuntiltheybleed-whentheir14yearoldsdyetheirhairgreen.Wholockthemselvesinthebathroomwhenbabieskeepcryingandwon’tstop.Thisisforallthemotherswhoshowupatworkwithspit-upintheirhairandmilkstainsontheirblousesanddiapersintheirpurse.Thisisforallthemotherswhoteachtheirsonstocookandtheirdaughterstosinkajumpshot.Thisisforallmotherswhoseheadsturnautomaticallywhenalittlevoicecalls“Mom?”inacrowd,eventhoughtheyknowtheirownoffspringareathome.Thisisformotherswhoputpinwheelsandteddybearsontheirchildren’sgraves.Thisisformotherswhosechildrenhavegoneastray,whocan’tfindthewordstoreachthem.Thisisforallthemotherswhosenttheirsonstoschoolwithstomachaches,assuringthemthey’dbejustFINEoncetheygotthere,onlytogetcallsfromtheschoolnurseandhourlateraskingthemtopleasepickthemup,rightaway.Thisisforyoungmothersstumblingthroughdiaperchangesandsleepdeprivation,andmaturemotherslearningtoletgo.Thisisforworkingmothersandstay-at-homemothers,singlemothersandmarriedmothers,motherswithmoney,andmotherswithout.Thisisforyouall.Sohanginthere!
