love your mom – Meghan E White

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Young Mother Sewing, oil on canvas c. 1890, Mary Cassatt

Multitasking is a mother’s middle name. Mom’s have to do it all, at once. God has uniquely gifted mothers to juggle, though we don’t always do it well. Sometimes those spinning plates come crashing down, and we clean up the mess, like any good mother.

Mom’s do so many things, and wear so many hats, sometimes piled one on top of the other. Mom’s love fiercely. We love our children so much that we make the costume, and we bake the birthday cake, and we buy the poster board for the school project without complaint. For the satisfaction is knowing that our kids have a smile, and that’s enough.

Mom’s remind those precious children how wonderful they are when they forget. Mom’s protect, comfort, and sit up with sick children in the middle of the night. Mom’s pray, and pray for our kids, because no one else will pray for them like we do.

Here’s to all the mamas out there. You are important in your child’s life. Thank you for loving them, no matter how big or small they are.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:25-26

“THERE IS NO INFLUENCE so powerful as that of the mother.” Sarah Josephina Hale, American pioneer and writer

“What do girls do who haven’t any mothers to help them through their troubles?” Louisa May Alcott, writer and editor

“Our children are not going to be just “our children” – they are going to be other people’s husbands and wives and the parents of our grandchildren.” Mary S. Calderone, physician and writer

“There is so much to teach, and the time goes so fast.” Erma Bomback, humorist

“There is nothing more thrilling in this world, I think, than having a child that is yours, and yet is mysteriously a stranger.” Agatha Christie, writer

“To love the tender heart ever fled,
As on its mother’s breast the infant throws
Its sobbing face, and there in sleep forgets its woe.” Mary Tighe, Irish poet

My mom with her mom, 1958.

Me and my boys, 2020.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Love you all,

Meghan

As a little girl, I dreamed of being a mom. I wanted at least six children. I came from a family of five kids, so six seemed like a good number. I know. Crazy, right? Several years later, and after several years of marriage, I had two sons. Two beautiful boys. God chose me to be Dylan and Joshua’s mom. There aren’t enough words for me to express my love for my children.

The mug in the picture was a birthday gift from my boys last year. They gave me a bunch of very thoughtful things in that gift, but I love this coffee mug. I love big mugs since I drink a lot of coffee and I love that it says “Mom”. A title I dreamed of having for so many years. God made my dream come true.

I remember when I was finally alone with newborn Dylan. My husband had gone back to work and it was me and this tiny human. What was I going to do with him? How was I going take care of a baby all day, every day? I was overwhelmed.

Being a brand new mom with a brand new baby is like being dropped in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight.

In the beginning I flailed in that deep water. My baby wouldn’t nurse. My baby wouldn’t sleep. I experienced my first “Mom guilt”. Great, I can’t even feed my baby. I loved my new baby dearly, but my dream didn’t look as I imagined. Lord help.

Slowly things got better. Dylan began to eat and sleep. I found a rythm as a mom. My confidence built. My prayers grew daily. My “mom” instincts kicked in. And in a short amount of time I felt like an actual mom.

Mom’s do crazy things for our kids because of our crazy love for them.

Mom’s sleep on the floor of our baby’s room right next to the crib, when our baby has the croup.

Mom’s stay up all hours of the night with a newborn, feeding and holding them.

Mom’s change diaper, after diaper, after diaper.

Mom’s haul everything but the kitchen sink in those diaper bags.

Mom’s volunteer at the school, at the church, for the team, or at whatever our kid’s are participating in, just to be close to them.

Mom’s make meal, after meal, after meal.

Mom’s wipe down high chairs countless times.

Mom’s empty potty seats, and watch the potty video over, and over again.

Mom’s wipe noses, and rear ends, and anything else in between.

Mom’s drive our kids to practice, play dates, parties, and school.

Mom’s hold our children tight when they are afraid.

Mom’s kiss the boo-boo and apply the band aid.

Mom’s cheer our kids on when they think they can’t do it.

Mom’s cry when our kid’s cry.

Mom’s laugh when our kid’s share a knock-knock joke, or two, or three.

Mom’s call the advice nurse a few dozen times.

Mom’s make the birthday cake, and decorate it with our kid’s favorite character.

Mom’s pray, and pray, and pray for our children.

There is nothing quite like a mother’s love. God made mom’s special.

I have made many mistakes with my boys. I have lost my temper and yelled at them more times than I can count. I have said “I’m sorry” many times. My boys have said “I’m sorry” many times. As a mom, I’ve learned what real unconditional love really means. I understand the love God has for me in a whole new way.

Being a mom has brought me to my knees, asking for God’s help, wisdom, and mercy. I cannot be the mom God called me to be without Him. I can’t do it in my own strength. I wasn’t supposed to.

This photo booth picture was taken about twelve years ago. It was right after a camping trip. A kind of exhausting camping trip. Joshua was three and was a handful. He spent a lot of time in his car seat in “time out”. Not a dreamy camping trip with a naughty toddler, but still fun. It was nice to stop in a local arcade at the Oregon Coast and just have some fun. Laughter is such a great release from stress. I love that you can only see Joshua’s eyes and nose.

Those amazing boys call me “Mom”. It’s an honor and a privilige to spend time with two funny, brilliant humans. And yes, we laugh a lot. You’ve got to laugh as often as possible, especially when you’re a mom.

Thank you Dylan and Joshua for the joy I get in being your mom. I love you this much (picture my arms spread out) and more. My love for you is bigger than the earth, moon, and stars. God’s love for you is the biggest, beyond measure.

Happy Mother’s Day to every mom. You have a unique calling. May God bless you abundantly.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:11, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

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Motherhood

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