Happy Mothering Day

So Mother's Day and Father's Day have long been awkward times for me...as I don't have the "traditional" mother and father.... I have many people who fill components of parents... but have never had parents as we understand them in western culture. That is always a little ... um, well, awkward to discuss initially with people, bc THEY don't necessarily know what to say. Most think they should apologize with the "I'm sorry to hear that." That's nice of you to say.... but it just makes the conversation stiff. Just move on and say or ask other things you would like to say or ask. However this isn't my point, my point is to talk about all the people that mother us. When we hear 'mother' I think our first thought is the woman who lived in our house growing up, be it biological, adoptive, step-, or even grand-. I'm not talking about the noun though. I'm talking about the verb. When you mother someone, you see that their needs are met... physically, spiritually, emotionally... and you often see to it that they stay out of harm's way. How you do that changes as the child grows and matures. A mother of a toddler starts with a slap on the hand for getting too close to the hot stove, but the mother of a college student offers advice on making healthy choices (and I have found too, that most moms pray--whether or not they believed in a higher power prior to the birth of a child). The way a person mothers changes as mother and child mature and as life changes.

I am have been blessed to have many women in my life who love me and provide much emotional support. Incidentally, should they ever read this, the first to come to mind are my beloved Losers--that's right ladies, you're capital L losers.

What I have recently found to be wonderful though, is that while I have the mothers of my friends, youth leaders, and older friends (I am often drawn to friendships with women 10-20+ years older than me), peers often mother us as well... today I posted the following on my facebook "I have been thinking.....the friendships of women are very special... unlike any other connection.... sometimes even a peer can wrap her arms around you and make the monsters under the bed go away... she can cheer for you when it seems like no one else in your section is cheering... and she can give you a good swift kick in the pants when you need it most.... I think all women mother other women in a way which they might never understand or acknowledge...". Well at this point, it's after midnight, so it's no longer Mother's day... can we call the Monday after Mother's Day, Mothering Day? Regardless of whether you have/ still have your biological mother in your life... be sure to pause and consider ALL those who mother you, who bring you comfort, support, or honesty... and just like Mom, remember to tell them all year long... not only one day of the year:).