Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. And anyone who tells you different is feeding you a big fat juicy lie. So don’t even go there. Today: a Tribute to the Mamas and the Not Mamas.
I’ve had mac & cheese hurled at me. Been slapped at. Stepped on. Thrown up on in the middle of the night more times than I can count. (Over my shoulder, down my shirt too.)
Little eyes have rolled at me. (Big eyes too.)
I’ve been peed on. Lied to. Talked back to. Even bitten. (Trust me, weaning commenced immediately.)
But there’s an enormous tribe of dedicated mothers out there who know their job like the back of their hand. They’d gladly volunteer all over again in a heartbeat, me included.
Of the many hats I wear, my mama hat is most precious. We mamas know our role and we embrace it. (Most of the time.) And we love love love these kids.
There’s a special bond between Mamas and their babies. And at some point on the journey, the babies grow up and the tide turns.
And these precious little ones, they aren’t so little anymore. And some of us, we have to climb the step ladder just to see eye to eye with them. And these big boys start to understand what a blessing their Mamas are.
And we Mamas, we lose the big hot tears to feel so loved and cherished.
Our job isn’t one of duty or obligation, just a heart brimming with love and gratitude for the gift of our children.
Today I’m thinking of a toe-headed six year old little girl I once knew. Like many, she loved playing school. Always knew she’d be a teacher when she grew up. Attended a little one room school house in the country.
One day, the first grade teacher asks if she’d mind staying in from recess to give a classmate a make-up spelling test.
MIND??? A dream come true. The little girl, so excited to play teacher.
SO excited that she really ought to visit the potty first. But too afraid to ask, the teacher is stern, scared she might miss the golden opportunity.
The spelling test starts. And it’s so very fun being teacher, calling out vocabulary words. And everything goes great until about halfway through when the warm trickle seeps down the red tights.
Mortified. A big girl in first grade, finally gets to be teacher. For real. And a puddle on the floor?
Barely finishes the test, rushes to the bathroom. Red-faced, whispers to teacher, “Can I call my mom, I need new clothes.” The most embarrassing day of her life.
And the teacher, she says, “Turn off the waterworks.”
And her Mama, she comes to the school. She brings the clean clothes, the tights. Later at pick-up the big brothers and sisters ask the Mama why she came to school in the middle of the day.
And the Mama, she’s evasive. My Mama, she never tells them why.
Mamas are gifts. One of a kind.
There’s another group out there. You aren’t Mamas. Not everyone dreams of being a Mama for sure, but maybe you did. Maybe you never got that sweet-profiled, swaddled little bundle in the delivery room.
You didn’t get thrown up on. Slapped. Stepped on. You didn’t get peed on. Lied to. (Or bitten.)
But the truth is, you would’ve welcomed each of those experiences with your arms and heart open wide. You would’ve embraced a little person, loved them with every fiber of your being. With your big, beautiful heart. But you weren’t given that gift for whatever reason. And that must be painful, especially on Mother’s Day.
I have dear friends, they weren’t given the opportunity of motherhood. But amazingly, no anger. No bitterness. They choose to love and embrace little people not their own. They love the Mamas. They love the babies. They love the children, each one.
They encourage, even spoil. These Not Mamas are courageous, amazing women in their own right. Such grace. On Mother’s Day and every day.
And they’ll always have my utmost love and respect for the blessing they choose to be, to me and so many others.
So to all the Mamas, and to all the Not Mamas today :
Wishing you a wonderful Mother’s Day this weekend. You are loved. You are appreciated. Your role is crucial.
You are the glue that holds our families together.
And if you’re lucky enough to still have your own Mama this side of heaven, I hope you’ll spoil her this weekend. Spoil her rotten, while you can.
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Nancy. Hammett says
Beautiful post . Thank you for sharing . Happy Mothers Day.
Allie says
Thank you Nancy! xo
Daniella says
Happy Mother’s Day Allie and many blessings on this never ending journey of Motherhood.
Allie says
Thanks my friend. It’s been such a joy being a mother alongside you for many years. Our day will come again. xo
Mike says
I love this – as I do all your posts. My favorite “Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out.” HOW TRUE!!!!!!
Happy Mother’s Day Allie to one of my all time favorite mothers! God bless you and the whole Taylor family!!!!!!!!
Love,
Mike Dennehy & crew…
Allie says
Hey Mike, so appreciate this nice comment, so thankful for you and your wonderful family.
Barbara Child says
Thanks, Allie! Happy Mother’s Day
I’ll be with my 2 daughters on Mother’s Day! Yeah! Last week-end with the 2 sons. Hard to get us all together! But, once a mother, always a mother!
Allie says
Dear Barbara, I hope you’re having a great visit with your daughters!!! Miss you around here though. Yep, once a mother, always a mother!
Susie Mandel says
Beautiful–as always. I seem to write that a lot. Just love your musings. 🙂
Allie says
Thanks friend Susie. I remember when you became a mother. I was just thumbing through some old pics, Jonathan needed some baby pics for his senior page in the year book, and came across one of you in the hospital with Julia just born. SO SWEET!
Sallie Eisengrein says
I love your blog!? Happy Mother’s Day!
Allie says
Awww…thanks so much Sallie. I miss you. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day and got spoiled. XO
Leslie says
Some of us not mama’s have been peed on too. I won’t name any specific niece or nephew. 🙂
hehe…
Love,
Auntie Leslie
Allie says
Dear Aunt Leslie, this made me laugh out loud. I guess you don’t need to be a mama to get peed on. HA!
BARBARA says
THERE ARE NO ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE MOTHERS – THEY ENCOMPASS ALL THAT IS NOBLE, GOOD, BEAUTIFUL, ENDEARING, LOVABLE, SELF SACRIFICING, TRUE, LONG SUFFERINGS THAT GOD IS ABLE TO INSTILL IN A HUMAN BEING AS A COMPOSITE OF
WHAT GOD HIMSELF IS TO A REBELLIOUS AND SOMETIMES UNGRATEFUL CHILD, BUT LOVING US WITHOUT LIMIT AND GIVING LIMITLESS MERCY TO ALL. MOTHERS ARE LIKE THAT, WITH OPEN ARMS AND LOVING HEARTS OPEN TO ALL THEIR LITTLE ONES
TRIALS,AND ALWAYS READY TO KISS AWAY EACH PROBLEM AND WIPE AWAY EACH TEAR, AND A HUGE HUG TO SWALLOW EVERY HURT
Allie says
Mamas sure are special, Barbara. I’ve loved hearing the wonderful stories about yours. I know she was a gem. I’m thinking about the snow suit she borrowed from the neighbor upstairs when yours was all wet (on purpose!) those many years ago. XO
Carina says
Beautiful. Just so, so beautiful.
Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day, Allie. ? XOXO
Allie says
Thank you so much Carina, I hope your was wonderful too. You are a very special mom. XO
Linda Jenkins says
Allie, I love this tribute to mothers and women everywhere. And I agree that as a mother I wasn’t always happy when I was peed on, vomited on, or yelled at, I survived and somehow raised three wonderful children, all who are wonderful parents. I would like to take the credit for that, but I realize it was my own mother and God who deserve the credit, for they saw me through those less than perfect moments. Oh, by the way, I was a little brunette who once left a puddle in the classroom because she was too afraid to ask the teacher to use the bathroom. My event took place when I was delivering a note from my teacher to another teacher. Very embarrassing!
Allie says
I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one at school with a puddle, Linda. Misery loves company I guess. You are a very special mother and your kids were lucky they got you. I’m also thankful that my Jonathan had you as a teacher. Such a blessing. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Denise says
Tears of joy running down my cheeks. Thank you for always including the non mommas. You have always made me feel special on the one day a year I wake up feeling a little sorry for myself. Then a senior in high school brings me a Mother’s Day rose and I tell him I love him and he says it back and a 2 year old girl hugs me when I read her a book in the nursery. I am truly blessed with all the mommas that share their children with us non mommas. God Bless and Happy Mother’s Day! XOXO
Allie says
Friend, you know I had tears running writing this. I meant every word. You are loved and you are a blessing. It gives me great joy to know you had those special moments on Mother’s Day. XO
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Beautiful post, girlfriend! Written from the heart and so eloquent, as always! I hope you had a beautiful Mother’s day, my dear friend… and that no one slapped, stepped on, or spit at you. 😉 Love and lots of hugs, dear!
P.S. I LOVE the name of this post!!! I used to watch Dinosaurs with my mother growing up, so I immediately giggled when I read the title! Oh, memories! Cheers! xoxo
Allie says
Thanks my friend, I wondered if anyone would “get” the post title. Made me smile too. And thank you, no one slapped, stepped on, peed on or spit on me. (On Sunday anyway!)
Tracy says
Allie, that was beautifully written! I’m also so glad you included the not mama’s. So very thoughtful of you and so very true!!! As our children get older you can see them begin to really appreciate their moms! They’ve always loved us but learn to appreciate us as times goes on. I know this for my own self and my mom but am enjoying seeing this in my boys. All three of my boys, 2 grown and one almost, showed me their love and appreciation in different ways. One gave me a home made card that made cry, one sent me a video all made from play dough characters (he loved play dough) it was very creative and very sweet and one called me and told me that every day is Mother’s Day to him….because he thinks about me and appreciates that I am his mother every day❤️ All three so different and all three such wonderful gifts! Happy Mama’s, that’s us??? Hope your day was wonderful too! Oh…. P.S. I have a pee story too?
Allie says
Dear Tracy, I loved hearing about your Mother’s Day, and I think I can guess who gave what. The gifts were from the heart, and that’s what makes them so incredibly special. I very much look forward to hearing your pee story! (???)
Karen Espalin says
I sure hope you had a great Mother’s Day.
Mine was quiet and low key, just what I needed.
Hugs,
Karen
Allie says
Dear Karen, I’m so glad you got a low key Mother’s Day. It’s what I wished for also, but it didn’t happen this year. One of the kids was at urgent care with strep throat and tonsillitis. Maybe next year? Other than that, it was a very nice Mother’s Day. Hope you and the boys and all the babies are doing great! xo
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Just one word for this post ‘BEAUTIFUL”. You are a wonderful Mom. Happy Mother’s day to you! 🙂
Allie says
Awwww… many thanks Anu. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, friend. You are so blessed with that sweet Adoria. XO
Eva says
Quelle belle cadeaux pour touts les mamans ! En Espagne la fête de mères est toujours le premier dimanche du mois de mai et on France c’est à la fin de mois! J’espère que tu as eu une belle journée entourée des tes enfants! xxx
Allie says
Merci Eva , ce fut une si belle journée , sauf que j’avais un enfant à la prise en charge d’urgence avec une angine streptococcique , MAIS , autre que celui ! Ce fut une belle journée. Donc, le jour de votre mère est encore à venir et je vous souhaite un merveilleux avec vos enfants! XO
Mandi Korn says
Beautiful post, even the part about the puddle situation. Hats off to you Mama, I know you are one of the best:o)