For all the Mums on Mothers Day

I've just being reading some beautiful poems and I wanted to share a couple of my favourites for Mothers Day. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy.

Deciding to have a baby!
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."
"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.
"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."
But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her.
I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.
I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her! That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.
That an urgent call of "Mum!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she would be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.
That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.
That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honour. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she would fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.
I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.
I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts. My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say.
Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble they're way into this most wonderful of callings.
May you always have in your arms, the one who is in your heart. Thought this was so lovely even for all of us that are already Mum's and for all those we know that will be becoming Mums.

Why Mothers Cry
"Why are you crying?" he asked his mum.
"Because I'm a mother," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said.
His mum just hugged him and said, "You never will!"
Later the little boy asked his father why Mother seemed to cry for no reason.
"All mothers cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why mothers cry.
So he finally put in a call to God, and when God got on the phone the man said, "God, why do mothers cry so easily?"
God said, "You see son, when I made mothers they had to be special. I made their shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gently enough to give comfort.
I gave them an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times come from their children."
"I gave them a hardiness that allows them to keep going when everyone else gives up, and to take care of their families through sickness and fatigue without complaining."
"I gave them the sensitivity to love their children under all circumstances, even when their child has hurt them very badly.
This same sensitivity helps them to make a child's boo-boo feel better and helps them share a teenager's anxieties and fears."
"I gave them a tear to shed. It's theirs exclusively to use whenever it's needed.
It's their only weakness.
It's a tear for mankind."

This one will give you a laugh
I was out walking with my then 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I asked her not to do that. "Why?" "Because it's been laying outside and it is dirty and probably has germs." At this point, she looked at me with total admiration and asked "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?" "Uh," I was thinking quickly,"...all moms knows this stuff. Um, it's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH....I get It!" she beamed. "Then if you flunk, you have to be the Daddy."

Chosen Angel
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.
So one day he asked God: They tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow -- but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?
Among the many angels, I chose one for you.
She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.
But tell me -- here in Heaven I don't do anything else but sing and smile. That's enough for me to be happy.
Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day.
And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.
And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?
Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.
And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?
Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.
I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?
Your angel will defend you -- even if it means risking life.
But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore. Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard. The child -- in a hurry -- asked softly, "Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." Your angel's name is of no importance... you will simply call her "Mommy"

This one is a REAL TEAR JERKER!
Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favourite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmatesof why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to schooleager to tell them all.
About a dad she never seesa dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher calleda student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,"Looks like another deadbeat dad,too busy to waste his day.
"The words did not offend her,as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me storieshe taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me,even though we are apart
I know because he told me,he'll forever be in my heart
"With that, her little hand reached up,and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,beneath her favourite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the loveof a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,but heaven's just too far
You see he was a policemanand died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,it's like he never went away.
"And then she closed her eyes,and saw him there that day.
And to her mothers amazement,she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.