Happy Mother’s Day!

As the mother of two grown sons, I can’t help but reflect on days gone by.  Special gifts and cards made by my little boy’s hands.  The following is a guest column I wrote for our local newspaper about twenty years ago:

***

Whatever you do, don’t blink!  Let me explain.  For more than half of my life I have been a wife and the mother of two sons.  I guess you could say that I’m a homemaker; cleaning toilets is my life—especially since the house majority happens to be male-type people.

My “baby” is now 6 foot 2.  He is a college man in California.  This is a major problem for me –and not just because I can no longer blame my extra pounds on his birth.  It’s this strange twinge I get in my heart when as I anticipate my new lifestyle, one without basketball games, track meets and proms.

Oh, I know I’ll still be their Mom.  It’s just that those cute little boys are young men now.  It’s the natural order of things.  I’m just surprised it happened so fast.  Within the BLINK of an eye.  At least that’s how it seems!

If I could speak to the hearts of young moms who are just starting out I would say, “Smother them with hugs and kisses.”  Those loving little arms around your neck will soon grow.  Tell them that out of all the children in the world you are so thankful that they are yours.  Tell them that you’re excited, because you know they are going to do great things with their lives.  Build up, don’t tear down.

Cruel words spoken by someone you love can be like a thorn that sticks in your heart for a lifetime.  Home must be a sanctuary where our children are loved and accepted, especially when the world socks them in the nose.  Brag about them while they’re within ear shot.  They need to know that mom thinks they’re tops.  Tell them you love them and repeat it often.  They may roll their eyes at you, but your love gives them confidence.

Tousle their hair when you walk past them.  Ask about their day, and listen to HEAR.

Hug’em!  When our boys went through that time in their lives when they thought my hugs were uncool, I told them I HAD to do it, because if I didn’t give them enough hugs they might grow up to be bank robbers.  It worked.  They haven’t robbed one bank!