I remember the first time I found out we were expecting. It was early in the morning and I was so excited. I didn’t tell my husband right away though. I waited and made up a little gift for him to open with a piggy bank in it and a note that said “Time to start saving for our child’s college fund.” and gave it to him when he got home from work that day. We were over the moon. A few months later we went through one of the most challenging times in our life as a couple as we suffered the loss of a child and dealt with a the heart break of a miscarriage. I had been a mom for 12 weeks. The moment I found out we were expecting I switched to the roll of mom. A couple months after we found out we were expecting again. What an incredible blessing, a miracle. This pregnancy would be what made me a mother in the eyes of others. Simply because this time we welcomed a beautiful little girl into the world. This time there was a little one others could physically see, then I was welcomed into “the club” of being a mom by others.
Driving to work the other day I was listening to the radio and there was a short little blurb shared on Mother’s Day and it was exactly what has been on my heart recently. I have been overwhelmed with thoughts for those who should also be honoured on this day.
The definition of mother is:
noun 1) a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.
verb 1) bring up (a child) with care and affection.
Perhaps the definition needs to be changed a little. I know many who have gone through the heart break of miscarriage, who desire to have a child but cannot conceive due to fertility problems, those who are in the process of trying to adopt, have adopted, have had failed adoptions, some who have placed their child for adoption, to those who are in a mother type role as a mentor, and so much more. This Mother’s Day my heart goes out to all of these women. All are moms or have a desire to be a mom. To me this is incredible and something very special. These women all are all moms in my eyes.
Mother’s are all around us, at all sorts of points in life. Take the time to honour all of them. Reach out to your friends and family members who have been somewhere on this walk to and in motherhood.
