Grateful this Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can be an incredibly hard holiday. Some have lost their moms recently. Others are estranged from their mothers. Many other women are struggling with infertility, their hearts aching for a child. Others are grieving the loss of a child, one of life’s greatest tragedies.

I am reminded how grateful I am for the incredible women in my life.

I am especially grateful to have my sweet mom still with us (her near-death experience is another story for another day…) This picture captures my mom perfectly:

Photo courtesy of The Schultzes

Carol’s smile can light up a room. Her laughter is contagious. She’s got spunk. She’s got class. She gets her “hair did” every week at a beauty parlor straight out of Steel Magnolias.

If you ever need help with customer service, call Carol. My sisters and I joke that she should start her own business named “Satisfaction,” acting as a consumer advocate. She’s been known to get hundreds of dollars in refunds on malfunctioning refrigerators.

But my mom isn’t just an advocate for consumers. She is the best kind of personal advocate. In other words, she’s got your back. She was the mom who would write letters to the school to ensure you had all your best friends in your class. She was the mom who would let you blame it on her when you didn’t want to spend the night at a friend’s house. She was the mom who let you take a “mental health” day from school and took you to the mall to get your ears pierced instead.

Another thing I love about my mom is her ability to listen empathetically. If I am mad, she gets mad right along with me (probably even angrier…) If I am happy, she celebrates with me. If I am anxious about something, she gets right to praying for me.

I get my social, outgoing side from my mom – she makes friends daily in the grocery store. And I don’t mean just learning people’s names. She’s been known to throw a baby shower for a store manager who became pregnant unexpectedly and didn’t have any family support in town.

Sometimes she will show up on my doorstep with a gift and say, “Isn’t it your birthday?” when my next birthday isn’t really for 6 months. That’s my mom.

Then there is Jon’s mom, Lisa, who is truly my second mom. I couldn’t ask for a greater mother-in-law or “nonni” to Anna. From the beginning, Lisa made me feel loved and accepted into their family. She has two beautiful daughters, but she treats me as a third. She is…comfort. Lisa always offers a warm cup of coffee and a listening ear. She’s also taught me all about being Italian (I’ve always wished for an Italian heritage), most importantly how to say “ricotta” and how to make stuffed artichokes.

I love the pride she has in her son. I love the way she tells me, with conviction, about the meaning of Jon’s name (Gift of God). I love that she has graciously allowed me to be the other woman in Jon’s life, ha ha.

Then there is beautiful Nannie Rose.

She can fry up a mean spanish rice. She always keeps Grandpa in line. Well, maybe almost always. And she is a doting great grandma to Anna.

I am also reminded of my MeMa this Mother’s Day. Her birthday is actually today. She would have been 94 years old. Is she up in heaven, greeting her own mom?

And of course I am grateful for my sweet Anna for making me a mommy. (Of course Jon played a small role as well). I am reminded of my first moments of being a mommy. The overwhelming love I felt for Jon. Anna’s tiny fingers and toes. Our touching foreheads. The immediate pride and protection.

 Hospital photos courtesy of The Schultzes

And Jon – let’s just say I owe you BIG for taking care of EVERYTHING while I was hurling over the toilet this Mother’s Day Weekend. Love you babe.

What are you grateful for this Mother’s Day?