Happy Mother's Day!: Sunday, May 10, 2009

Me and my beautiful mom, Karen, at my Uncle Chris' wedding on Saturdy, April 18, 2009. Could I be any paler? Geez!

Dear Mom,

Where to begin? First, if I didn’t know it before, I sure do know on this Mother’s Day that you are my hero. Why? Well, for one thing, you have provided me more calm and consistent support than anyone else over the past eight, very challenging weeks of my life. And while I’m not surprised by this at all, I’m more grateful than words can express. I’ve always known that Bobby and I won the “Mommy Lottery” in a big way and that God put you on Earth to be a mother, but the reason you’re my hero today is because you have so bravely and successfully moved outside of your comfort zone on a daily basis to help me through my treatment process. How so? Well, in ways both big and small. First, while not too long ago you needed your husband's help to successfully reply to the occassional email, you now email me and your friends and family on an almost daily basis in order to give and receive medical updates. More importantly, you’ve embraced the fact that if you want to hear from me quickly, you’re better off shooting me a quick email than trying to reach me by phone. Hurray! Second, at times my care has demanded a nursing degree but despite this, you quickly mastered what you needed to know to take care of me, and even though you were nervous at times, you’ve always done a fantastic job with various medical tasks. And I’m proud to say, I think you can change a wound wick with the best of 'em... and certainly much, much more comfortably than Dr. E does it! Bravo! And the list of your recent accomplishments goes on and on.

I know my high fevers (1x), fainting spells (2x), barfing (5x?), and temper tantrums (let's not count those) have freaked you out, as they would most mothers, but you’ve put on a brave face for me and I appreciate that so much. You’ve given me all of your time and attention the last eight weeks (much longer than that, really), which I know you haven't minded but I also know hasn't been easy. Heck, you’ve even subjected yourself to many, many hours in the passenger seat of my car for our trips around the Beltway and to Charleston, which, given the white knuckles and rigid body posture you exhibit, as well as your occasional yelps, might be the bravest thing you’ve done yet!

I love you, Mom. You’re the best mother in the world. And hopefully someday, either through adoption, assisted reproductive technology (read: some twenty something's eggs, my husband's sperm, and a gestational carrier), or maybe even the Stork, I’ll be able to make you the best grandmother in the world. Happy Mother's Day!

XOXO,

Jennie

And now a Mother's Day message to my mommy friends:

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you’re all being pampered right now and that you are enjoying a perfect Mother's Day with your little ones. All of your children are so special to me, and that's because each of you has done such a wonderful job raising them to be the sweet and unique little people they are today. I'm so thankful you're all in my life...and that it seems as though you're not raising spoiled brats. Back in my babysitting days, I complained to my dad about how spoiled some of the children I sat for were. He agreed, and he predicted our generation would return to old-school parenting values – you know, like making children say please and thank you, and actually saying no and meaning it. So far, I see those good values in all of you (plus, you all seem to have found effective ways to discipline without the corporal punishment part of the old-school values, so double bonus points for you!). I know some of you doubt yourselves on a daily basis but that’s just because you love your children more than anything else and you all want to do the best job you know how in raising them. It's the toughest job in the world and I think you're all doing an amazing job at it! Happy Mother's Day!

XOXO,

Jennie

P.S. If you suspect that I might be sucking up to you in the hopes that you will one day carry a baby for me, you’d be right!