Happy Mother's Day to all. All moms, aunties, godmothers, and friends who do the "mom job." Lots of Dads do the "mom job" too (My Superhero was/is awesome at it) so Happy Day to them too! Me? Here I am with my brood (dog George Chewbacca Sneetch included) in the same t-shirt I wore yesterday sans shower. Typical day for me. I am truly celebrating the day in rare Mom form: doing LOTS of wiping. Wiping snotty noses, wiping poopy bottoms, wiping crumb-filled tables, wiping the smile off of my face as the Ole baseball team is wiping out the Tommies, currently 13-1 top of 6. (YES!) My Superhero is in Dundas watching my stepson Luke's team in MIAC playoff baseball and I'm hoping the season will continue after today. Go Oles! Um Ya Ya!So... some Moms are taking today off - off of cleaning, kid watching, Mom-being. Me? My life doesn't exactly work that way. Don't get me wrong kiddos, your Maba is soon off to NYC to do a bit of celebrating alone-time and visiting your amazing Aunt Joy. YES! Red wine here I come! So, I will have my moments of self-indulgence. Just not today. Being a stepmom often asks me to make choices others don't ever have to consider. For example, how and where to spend our time, how to "blend" this family, how to help my husband "be there" for his kids. Choosing how to spend your time among your children is difficult as any parent of multiple children can attest too - now throw in an age gap of 26 years between oldest and youngest (youngest being less than one), multiply by 6 and then figure out that math equaling a torn heart. I don't know how he does it sometimes. I hope all of his children know/feel/realize how precious they are to him and how he tries his best. He is always thinking about them and wondering how to be a better father to them. One of the many reasons I fell in love with him!
Being a stepmom means when I said yes to him, I said yes to this life. I said yes to my wedding day being a mixture of my happiest day and sadness in knowing that it was a sad day for others whom I care about. I said yes to awkward blended family moments where I don't feel like I belong. I said yes to doing things and getting no credit. I said yes to being there but being forgotten. I said yes to understanding my husband loves me but hates being divorced because it means less time with his children. I knew this and still said yes to being a stepmom. And damn, I can be really awful at it sometimes, but I pray I never reach wicked status. And while I likely already have, consider this... I'm sure I've reached wicked real mom status too. YES! (ha)
Sappy as it may sound, and something women who have infertility problems or no children HATE to hear... being a mom makes me a better person. It does. I am forced to think of others besides myself. I am forced to make choices everyday. If I did not have this role, I highly doubt I would do as much for others. For that I am thankful to be a Mom.
Finally I will close with pics of my Mother's Day gifts. One was made before Mother's Day, one I witnessed being made for me. Both are equally cherished. Happy Mother's Day to all!
