Thank God For Moms...

The Oak Ridge Boys sang, "Thank God For Kids". But for most of us, us kids, maybe it's "Thank God For Mothers". No. Moms. "Thank God For Moms." We all have mothers. They are the storks we are first told about. But it's the moms that we cherish. And sadly, not all of us get a mom.

For the first 9 months, we are stuck with our moms. Or, our moms are stuck with us. But as the character Dallas said in the remake of Stagecoach, "You're carrying your new best friend!"

From the beginning, moms have a huge impact on our turnout. Their lifestyle habits. Their health and medications. All of their choices impact how we start out. From the beginning, a mom sacrifices. They make changes. Maybe they give up caffeine. Maybe they start exercising. They stop with the energy drinks. Whatever it is, they do it for that inbound new best friend.

And what of these ladies we call mom? What makes them special? Everybody grows up different, but there was a time when most moms were "stay at home" moms. They didn't work outside the home. Notice how I say that. Men got up and left. They knew that staying home and taking care of the house, taking care of the kids, cooking, shopping, cleaning and everything else that went with the "stay at home mom" title was a lot more work they they would do anywhere else. Yes, moms are the original entrepreneurial multi-taskers.

They cook breakfast, wash clothes, wash dishes and get the kids to school on time. Sometimes with home made lunches. All of this by 8:00. I remember mom ironing, hanging clothes on the line, baking a cake, or maybe making Jell-O. Baking a Pound Cake and then melting Hershey bars to pour over it. THAT was an extravagance. Mom's run the house. They save the money so you can get that Cub Scout shirt. Or have the money to sign up for Little League. They are the Tooth Fairy, the "Stocking Stuffers" and so much more. No disrespect to our Military, but in most homes, moms are the "ultimate sacrificers". They scrimp and do without so that their kids and the family can have more. They pass on the last piece of chicken. They skip having pie so you can have seconds. They pass on getting that ice cream they want so that you can have the Lucky Charms instead of the store brand.

For the most part, it's the little things that moms do. Maybe they get fewer haircuts so that there's money to go out for a special birthday dinner. Or they volunteer at your school as a "Room Mom." That used to entail baking cookies or cupcakes and brownies. Not anymore. Now everything has to have a store bought nutritional label with ingredients listed. They sew on your scout awards, stitch up ripped jeans, and sew their own clothes so that they can buy yours. The have everything a pharmacy needs. Got a cough? They can tame it. Got a skint knee? They can dab it with something. Bad haircut? They've got something to slick it up with. No matter how bad something in your life is, mom can make it better.

Moms are our first protectors. Dad taught you how to catch? Mom was the one on the floor rolling the ball to you before you could walk. Dad taught you to swim? Mom was the one letting you splash in the tub (kitchen sink?) before you knew what water was. Yes, dads get their due, but it's mom who's putting the lunch money in your pocket. Or that extra nickel for the extra milk. She laid out the clean clothes. Mom was your "all-in-one" entourage.

No matter how old you get, mom worries when you are sick. Maybe she can no longer hold you, but she'll give you a pill or a syrup. Or she'll call and give you advice. She'll tell you things you already know, My maternal grandmother believed that you can cure anything...ANYTHING...with Vicks VapoRub or tickle root, Or something like that. Moms know what their moms knew. Recipes were handed down. Cooking secrets. Sewing lessons.

And now...I dunno. Things are different. More and more, kids have two moms. Mom and "step-mom". And some just have two moms and no dad.  I don't know if having two moms is as cool as getting a double dip of ice cream, but I can't picture my mom yelling, "Just wait until your mother gets home!" Today, most moms work outside the home. My mom did. Fewer moms can be that "Homeroom Mother". They can't bake treats to take to school because schools don't allow that. Some schools have even banned the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that decades of moms have made the staple of the brown bag lunch. No matter what, moms still love us, they just show it in different ways.

Moms swell with pride with every victory, cry with every failure, and smile through the disappointments. You know. "Here. Have a stick of gum!" They cheer no matter the final score, tell us what we need to hear, hug us at the end of a bad day, and make our house a home. And home is where you go to feel better, to have fun, and to be with those you love, and those who love you.

It's Mother's Day. If you can, go see your mom. If you can't, call her. And if that's not an option, just look up and smile. She'll be the one smiling back.

Tell me about your mom!