This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their
arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying,
"It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't
be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and
milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.
For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween
costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the
mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their
refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or
soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when
their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't
have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat
them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before
dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child
abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all
about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just
couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all
the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read
it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces
before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro
instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to
sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice
calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home
-- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches
assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from
the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to
reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children,
and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds
dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers
of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs
in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now
pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at
the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch
your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the
very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib
at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? Th e panic, years
later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the
door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from
wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car
accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young
mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.

"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall."

Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.
(Source unknown, but nuch appreciated)