The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Elaine Slater Reese
Back then-when I was a much younger mother, there were days when I wondered if I would ever survive it all. At times, my friends and I joked that we should have read the fine print in the "being a mother" contract. How little did we know when we signed up. But the years have passed, and things are different now.
I was blessed with all boys and can only imagine what raising girls was like-although I certainly heard lots of stories from friends. (They all tell me boys are easier!) There were the years when my sons thought getting dressed up meant putting on a different sweatshirt. I would never live to see them in a suit and tie-or good dress shoes. Surely they would be buried in their old age in a pair of tennis shoes. But yesterday at a family funeral, there they were-the most handsome men in the room and all dressed in suits, ties, and GOOD DRESS SHOES!
These were the ones who believed eating healthy meant adding more ingredients to the pizza. They thought they were helping the national economy by subsidizing every fast food place in town. And they believed a pan of brownies or cinnamon rolls should all be consumed at one sitting. But now I see the one who tells his little girl how great grapes and melons and apples are. There is no junk food in the house. I remember the days of rushing home from work to immediately go to not one, but two soccer, football, or baseball games. Now I see the son who has to spend his Saturdays at girls' basketball games.
The one who thought homework meant letting the dog out now brings folders home from work to plan the strategy for his business. One thought credit cards were devised just for him and that due dates were just numbers printed by the computer for no significant reason. Now he is extremely unhappy when his customers don't make their payments on time.
The teenager who thought cars were meant for squealing tires and speeding down highways finally drives like a normal human. (It took a while and a few tickets.) All of them (whose rooms appeared to have been trashed by some unknown creature) now actually have homes cleaner and neater than mine. (Of course, aging has affected my ability to do things as I would like!)
The two who fought the most? One has hired the other to work for him. They hunt together, go to sports events together. And the one who told me in his teenage years that he didn't have to go to church anymore now sends his children to a Christian school and takes them to church on Sunday.
So, on Mother's Day, I reflect again all those years.
I remember the frustration, the tears, the laughter, and the smiles and hugs. I remember the words Mommy and Mom.
But I know my job isn't complete yet.
I prayed every day for those children. I expect the last day of my life I will still be praying for them.