"MOM" means "LOVE"

“Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” —Robert Browning

 

 

It's Mother's Day!  A day to celebrate women everywhere who devote their hearts and lives to loving and raising children, and showing us the meaning of unconditional love. 

Although I'm not a mom myself yet, I am lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible mothers in my life.  Women whom I admire, and hope to some day emulate.  And so today I honor these mothers for the amazing women they are, for the amazing little ones they are raising (or have raised), and for teaching me in their own ways what love really is.

 

 

 

My mom. 

The first person to love me just for being me.  The woman who I owe my very being to, and who has spent the greater part of her life taking care of me and my sisters, and asking nothing in return.  That's something I still can't wrap my head around.  There's no way I could even being to repay her for her years of sacrifice, worry and devotion.  Perhaps the best I can do is just be the best person I can, the person she raised with all the compassion and love in her heart.  Oh and maybe apologize for that time I shoved a blueberry up my nose which required a visit to the ER!

 

 

 

 

My sisters.

Don't they both have the most amazing, good looking families?!  Here's hoping my future spouse and children are at least half as attractive as they all are!  But seriously, my sisters are both incredible moms.  The bond between sisters is unlike any other and it's been amazing to watch both of them blossom into this next phase of their life right before my eyes.  Plus, I am now Aunt to 3 kids who I love more than I thought was even possible!  Their children are a true testament to the kind of mothers my sisters are - sweet, loving, and funny as hell!

 

 

 

 

The two best friends a girl could ask for.

Just two more incredibly attractive families here!  These two women are my childhood friends, and feel just as much like sisters as my 'real' sisters.  Once again, it has made me so happy to watch them find their lifelong partners and then eventually start families.  Maybe my happiness is a little selfish as well, because I got to be 'Aunt' to their children before my sisters ever had their kids.  I will always be grateful to them for letting me be a special part of their children's lives and for bearing witness to the work they do each and every day to raise these kind, smart and hilarious little beings.

 

 

Also in my heart but not pictured:  This post goes out to my grandmothers, Mary and Alberta; my great gram, Barbara; all of my cousins who are mothers - Joyce, Theresa, Becky and Megan; my aunts - Diane, Fay, and Ellen.  To all of my other friends around the country who are moms, to my Nanny Moms, and to all of you out there who are Moms, Moms-to-Be, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Aunts, Honorary Aunts, or those who play a special part in raising a child - Happy Mother's Day.  Or really, what is means to me is Happy LOVE Day.  I hope to one day join your ranks in raising blessed little souls of my own!

 

 

 

After all,

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” —Oprah Winfrey