May 8, 2011

Mother's Day.



This Mother's Day, I'm the happiest. Ever. I've been misty-eyed all day, in part because I'm just feeling really grateful. Not because I have a perfect husband, or a perfect child, but because the three of us are just really genuinely happy - imperfections included. I'm feeling really blessed to have a lot of love in my life - from both a husband who is so very good, & from a little boy who has taught me all about who I am & what I'm really capable of. I'm starting to understand why motherhood is part of this divine scheme of things, because I think there are lessons to be learned that just otherwise cannot be taught. And finally - I have mothers & someday-mothers all around me who have held my hand the past 8 months & taught me all that I know. I'm grateful for those who are on speed dial, because calls have been frequent & I'm probably a slow study. 

Friend Suzi gave a talk in church today (that was amazing), while Kelsey played with Quinn. I got to see a lot of friends at church that I haven't seen in far too long, talked to my mom on the phone this evening got a call from my sister, exchanged emails & texts with friends... & I just felt so much love for (& from) all of these women in my life today. I'm happy & grateful.

And because it's too hilarious (& true!) not to share, passed along from Erin today:

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty. When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half... Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called 'Hell Drop,''Tower of Torture,' or 'The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,' and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age... Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short... O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers... And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Sh%^&t. I will not have it. And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. 'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes. Amen." 

(Tina's Prayer from Bossy Pants - Tina Fey)

5 comments:

Tara Edwards said...

That is SOOOO true! Happy Mothers Day Kathryn! You are amazing.

noelle said...

you're a cute mama. so we'll see you saturday! actually, i'll go email you now...

ellen said...

happy 1st mother's day!

Whitney said...

My sister in law (amber) shared this with me yesterday. Who's best friend (Lindsay) is friends with Erin, small small world!

Happy mother's Day! That photo of you two is just too perfect.

Meg said...

Happy Mama's Day! I love that Tina Fey blurb. Hilariously poignant.