Mother's Day

There is no greater joy than being a mother... it's something that you really cannot wrap your mind around until a little baby is placed in your arms. The overwhelming and all-consuming love I feel for my daughter shocked me in the intensity because I just don't think you ever really "get it" until you're living it. I am even more grateful and in awe of my mother now because being a mom makes you realize how much your own mother loves YOU. It's humbling and I tear up just thinking about some of things that I put her through. Hug and love on your mamas this weekend. Whether you believe it or not, you carry a piece of your mama's heart with you each and every moment. I'll leave you with one of my favorite poems about parenthood:

The Last Time

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,

you will never be the same.

You might long for the person you were before,

when you had freedom and time,

and nothing in particular to worry about.

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,

and days will run into days that are exactly the same,

full of feedings and burping,

nappy changes and crying,

whining and fighting,

naps or a lack of naps...

it might seem like a never-ending cycle.

But do not forget...

there is a last time for everything.

There will come a time when you will feed

your baby for the very last time.

They will fall asleep on you after a long day,

and it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,

and never pick them up that way again. 

You will scrub their hair in the bath one night,

and from that day on they will want to bathe alone.

They will hold your hand to cross the road,

then never reach for it again.

They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,

and it will be the last time you ever wake to this.

One afternoon you will sing "the wheels on the bus" and do all the actions,

then never sing that song again.

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,

the next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.

They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won't even know it's the last time

until there are no more times,

and even then, 

it will take you awhile to realize.

So while you are living in these times,

remember there are only so many of them,

and when they are gone,

you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For one last time.