Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Why I Will Never Be Mother of the Year.

I was cooking dinner one night when my daughter Kathryn complained to me about a hurt finger. Keeping my focus on the meat browning in the frying pan, I said, “Oh, that’s too bad.”
A few weeks later Kathryn came to me once again. This time she held up a very crooked finger and asked, “Should my finger look like this?”

“Kathryn!” I exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me you broke your finger?”

“I did tell you”, she answered. “I told you my finger hurt, and you just said, ‘That’s too bad.’”
I whisked her off to the doctor in hopes the finger could be fixed, but was told it was too late. The finger had set, but over time it could straighten a bit.

And that is just one reason why I will never be “Mother of the Year.”

I could list many others. If you were to ask my kids they would say I should never win because of the time I got them all out of bed at five in the morning to weed the garden. Or they might say I don’t qualify because I once got them all up at 3 a.m. to watch a meteor shower when all they really wanted to do was sleep. But personally, I think both of those are good things.

At the end of this life, though, I hope my kids won’t remember the times I lost my patience and yelled at them (yes, I have yelled, but not in a long time— having only one child at home certainly helps), how dinner wasn’t always perfect, or how the laundry wasn’t always (never) done, and how I forced them all to take piano lessons.

Instead I hope they remember all the nights I stayed up late waiting for them to come home and then stayed up even later listening to stories about their night. I hope they remember helping them with school projects or when I let them ditch school (on a very rare occasion) to help me make salsa. I hope they remember when Camille told me she was running away from home so I went with her and we spent the afternoon at the park, or all the times we would sing at the top of our lungs in the car to the sound track for "13 Going On 30", the foot rubs, and all the telephone calls made from college.

Those are the things I hope they remember.

Because, my dear sweet children . . . I may not be the best mother in the world, and I may not receive any public recognition for my motherhood, but . . .

Being your mother has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

From the first moment I knew you were a microscopic possibility, to the moment I held each of you in my arms following your birth, I have loved you. And that love has continued to grow and strengthen through time.

And every day of my life I am so thankful to a wonderful Heavenly Father, who sent you all to me.

Camille, Ryan, Kristen, Kathryn and Michelle . . . I love you!! And am so glad you are mine!
You all have truly brought . . . joy to my journey!

15 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

Beautifully expressed, and I related completely to every word.

Your children are lucky, and I'm 100% certain they know it!

=)

Momza said...

Oh that was darling!
I could also relate to your challenges and your joys!
I hope your Mother's Day rocks!

NatureGirl said...

I hear ya Sister!

Rebecca Irvine said...

Motherhood is never easy, but oh so worth it. You are a great mom!

Jenny-Jenny said...

That was beautiful. That's the kind of mother I want to be.

Lisa @ Pulsipher Page said...

Love this!

the Eggett's said...

This post made me tear up! Good stuff!

Unknown said...

Mothering is so very hard, but I think that makes it even more worth the efforts we put forth.

MissKris said...

I love you too! I can't picture there could possibly be a better mom out there. Thanks for everything you've done! (Especially the days we ditched school :)

Shannon said...

Amen! Being a mother sure is an interesting journey. I think your family is one lucky group of people. Have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

beautiful post!!

i love the broken finger!...

Thanks i needed this today.

Terri said...

Another beautiful moment you gave me! Thanks!

Sonia Holmes said...

Lori:
You will always be a mother of the year to me!!!! Love you...

LeAnn said...

I love this post and also your blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on being a mother. You actually sound a lot like how I feel.
I plan to follow your blog.
I have a new blog so if you get a moment check it out. It is called Living Waters by LeAnn
http://lgwilliams.blogspot.com/

rad6 said...

ok, bawling... you just got mother of the year in my book.

oh, can so relate to your words... except that mine are all still at home and though I dont often do it, I raised my voice YESTERDAY. Still repenting.

Love this! And you...
And btw... 12 more days of seminary. But who is counting...
you are! How many days for you? 5? 2? wow.