the wide spectrum of mothering

[azfiddle]

Lovely

[Pax]

That is beautiful, Rebecca, thanks for sharing. My mom has been gone two years now and I find this time of year really painful, it's nice to see some acknowledgement of that loss.

[Crankin]

It's funny, I had a wonderful mom, but the only time I miss her is when I think of her in relationship to my sons and their achievements. She would have been an awesome great grandmother. She sincerely did not want people moping about her death and articulated this clearly, so I really took that to heart and only think about her in good ways. Of course, I wish she had not struggled with illness and died at such a young age (69), but I can hear her now, saying, "Go forward, get over it!!"
I bought my DIL the book "Sh*tty Mom, the Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us." It is hysterical. I wish it had been around when I was a young mom. I read almost all of it and I would say I am in the honorable mention sh*tty mom club. I will preface the gift with the fact that I just don't want her worrying and listening to all of the BS she will hear when she has the baby. It's already started... she is taking everything so seriously and worrying. With no good maternal role model, I try to walk the fine line between giving advice and just being there. My son will be a natural parent, so I shouldn't worry a lot.
My other DIL and son do not need the book. She'll have the baby and the next day, they will probably be out hiking with the kid.

[rebeccaC]

Pax…in my mind there IS a beauty in an inclusive and caring acknowledgement of all the aspects of Mother’s Day..
..(HUG)