The Things We Do

I just poked my husband's shoulder. "Do you think I'm crazy?" Dangerous question.

His response was a less than intelligent, "hrmphs."

"Do you think I'm crazy?"

"Hmm? Um-um."

"Would you think I'm crazy if I told you I just put a pizza in the oven?"

"Whah? Yes."

That's right. It's midnight and I just popped a pizza in the oven.

I was busy making my son's lunch when I had, what I like to call, a Good Mom Moment.

My boys have a food sensitivity to gluten which means my kindergartner can't take sandwiches like other kids his age. Usually I fill his lunch with some type of meat (tuna, chicken) and cheese and crackers along with other goodies.

For some reason I was struck with that sense of motherly awe. You know, the one that makes you well up with emotion and think, I would do anything for this child of mine. I would give my life for him. And since there's no impending doom to rescue him from, I did the next best thing. I made him pizza. At midnight.

No, I did not make my own crust. You can buy these gluten-free ones from the local health food store for an exorbitant price. I had one sitting in my freezer. I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy.

So now I'm feeling warm and fuzzy and like a pretty darned good mother, if I do say so myself.

Hang on - Whew! Got busy typing and nearly burnt the pizza.

So now I'll be up until 1:00 a.m. waiting for it to cool. But that's okay. His smile will be worth the lost hours of sleep.

Mothers Are...

I realize Mother's Day is over, but being a mother never ends. As I've been dealing with sick children for the past three days, this has been on my heart and mind.

What are mothers? Mothers are...

- 2 a.m. feedings, walking the floor with crying babies, changing diapers - and clothes when diapers don't hold it all, potty-training;

- they are cool cloths on a fevered forehead, balancing medicine dosages just right, cuddling after being puked on knowing it's only a matter of time before it happens again;

- loads of laundry, 3-meals-a-day-plus-snacks, cleaning up toys and making beds, dishes, dishes, dishes;

- they are impromptu picnics on the family room floor, water fights and sprinklers, popsicles and hot chocolate, pictures colored and crafts made, homework done and lessons practiced;

- they kiss better owies, remove slivers, clean up cuts, rub away bruises and mend broken hearts;

- they have slime and snot on their shoulders, sticky hand prints on their backs, slobbery kisses on their cheeks;

- mothers are warm arms that hug, firm discipline when needed, shoulders to cry on, kisses that heal, hearts that love unconditionally.

That's a mother. It's not a glamorous job and it's often a thankless one, but it is a blessing unlike any other. There are days we want to escape and days we find ourselves rejoicing. It's highs and lows. It's giving and caring. It's sacrifice.

Anything you want to add?