Happy Mother's Day

There was a very cute segment on the Today Show Sunday morning where kindergartners shared what they loved about their mothers.  It brought tears to my eyes. I can still remember when my two were that sweet and a glimpse of those little boys show up every now and then. Yesterday Ben asked me how my day was and when I replied, "not that good", he gave me an awkward boy hug with his stinky post practice work out man body.  Awwww................ right.  I loved it, but then I had to roll down the window.

This is what I LOVE about my Mom:
Family dinner, every night, because that is just what she did.
She made the best cake with Mocha Frosting ever!
She instilled in us a love of reading.  My favorite treat was getting a new book.
There was never a doubt that I was loved.
Clam Chowder
My Mom tried her best and as an adult I realize just how awesome that was.
She was not perfect, but I didn't need her to be anything but what she was.
She gave me a family and picked out an awesome man to be my Dad!
Education was so important to her and Mom shared that with us.
She showed me that women can be smart too!
She always had my back.
The ocean.  She introduced us to the sea and all of it's magical charms.
Clingy, smothering hugs.   Actually I hated that, but I love that she loved me that much.

This is what I LOVE about being a Mom.
Little boy hugs. Stinky boys hugs.  "Love You Mom" hugs.  Grown up man hugs.
Feeding them and feeling the appreciation they both have for a good meal.
Family dinners and the laughter that goes with it.
Seeing them grow up into awesome men.
Watching both of them play sports.
Reading books when they were little, their bodies cuddled up to mine.
Watching them be gentle, polite, caring and loving toward others.
Knowing that they love each other best.

I have been a mother for 24 years.  Sometimes a good one and other times a horrible one.  But Mother's Day is not about the times I struggled and didn't do the right thing, it's about the love in my heart passed on to me by my mother and the love I pass to my sons every single day. It's about forgiving myself for not being a perfect Mom, being grateful that Sam and Ben are in my life and remembering my own mother for the love she gave.  And this Sunday it was about being in the moment.