Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Where would we be without mothers? Thank you moms, for always being there.
Reflecting on Mother's Day, and in a bizarre way of thinking about this subject, I remember my own mother and that tough year when I was in Vietnam. During my Tour in Vietnam, Mom, Bless her, would send letters and packages to me. Cookies, brownies, candies, and just assorted food packs to supplement my C-Rations. Getting goodies to me, in some semblance of condition, was no small feat, and trial and error came into play. I think mom finally figured out that packing the items in popcorn, helped cushion those goodies. But the truth of it was, that mom was up against the Southeast Asian weather...the HEAT. Cookies and brownies were more crumbs, than ovals and squares. But my mom's flavorful goodies, in what ever condition, were always a hit with my squad members.
In a less than fond memory, I also recall that in the heat of battle, with bullets whizzing by and explosions ringing my ears, I would hear the moans of the afraid and the wounded, the low voices calling out for their moms. Yes, and in fox holes, in the middle of the night, I'd even think of my own mom, and how that long past comfort of her loving arms, were a very distant past, but how we would miss that comfort and protection of our moms. Young men, quickly growing old in battle, longing for a mother's arms, to hold us safe.
I'm a dad, and a VERY proud dad at that. But I never heard a soldier call out for his dad(dy). I have written before about the importance of fathers, but it's the moms, who gave us life, nursed us, and held us to their bosoms to protect and love us first.
From the early days of nursing and bottle feedings, to school lunches, moms having been taking care of us from the start. Then on to cooking us our favorite foods, and baking us those cakes and pies, moms have brought us that comfort of being loved. Sometimes, it was that fresh smell of our cleaned school clothes, and other times, it was sharing conversation while she cooked supper.
Later in life, men take on wives, and those wives become mothers to our own children. I love being a dad, but moms are the "motherers" to our children. And we get to watch as that mothering becomes the foundation of our children's beginnings.
To my ex-wife, my children's mother, I am most grateful. We have GREAT kids, and they know love. While we, as adults, made our share of mistakes that ended in divorce, our children were always kept first when working out those difficult times. And our children are who they are today, largely because of the mothering they had.
My wife today, Diann, is a great mother too. I see every day, the depth of her love for her son, my step-kid. With the highs and lows of her and her ex's circumstances, her love has never faulted for Trev, not one bit. And her focus has always been on what she could do to help and protect her son, first and foremost...ALWAYS. Even now at 18, I don't think he yet knows and fully comprehends that depth of love and commitment she has to his best interests.
In some ways, it is because of that deep love for a child, that moms seem to bare the most pain when things go wrong. NO MAN (and dare I say, no woman who has never been a mother), will ever fully know that same pain. And, no man will ever quite know that depth of that happiness either. That child, given nurturing life within the womb of a mother, then brought out unto the world through the birth, has a bond that can never be known by a man.
To the mother of my two kids - Thank you and Happy Mother's Day.
To Diann, the mother of a great kid - I see your love for him every day, and I so appreciate you for that. Happy Mother's Day.
To my own mother - Mom, thank you for ALWAYS being there. From the earliest time I can recall, to the jungles of Vietnam, and through my adult and professional life, THANK YOU. Happy Mother's Day!
