What Makes a Mother a Mother?

I hope you're not confused with the question.

Really, what makes a mother a mother?

Oh, you carried each of your children in your womb for nine months, that makes you a mother all right!

You gave birth to all of them ... normal delivery!

Remember the pain when their heads "crowned"?

Or via CS, and you had to be careful for months because of your operation ...

Or you may be someone who did not literally nurture them in your womb

but nonetheless is a Mother to them in all other aspects ...

When they were small, you bathed them every single day,

until the time arrived when they could do it themselves.

Then all you had to do was prepare the towels and the change of clothing ... and pray that they rinsed their hair well, or that they scrubbed their elbows and knees and heels ...

You fed them every time they cry!

You either had to wash your "automatic baby bottle", if you know what i mean,

or you had to make sure that the bottles were sterilized ...

and the water was sterile ...

and the milk, that it's not too hot nor not cold ...

You had to hold the bottle while they sucked, which took a few minutes to an hour ...

sitting up so they won't choke

and watching and waiting till they're finished

so they won't suck in air

and suffer from colic pains.

You did this morning, noon, till night time

even when all the rest of the household are asleep;

Many times you find yourself alone in the house

carrying the baby everywhere

for you can't just leave him or her lying in your bed alone

while you try your best to do your chores at home

while he sleeps - which he does so irregularly ...

Remember the time call of nature came, and you just had to go?

You had to leave the door open so you can hear the baby ...

Day in and day out

you smell like sour cream or spoiled milk because you just did not have enough time

nor the motivation

to change your house dress into something more fashionable;

Who needs to be that trendy anyway? So you tell yourself!

You smell of "weweee" and of "pawis" and of "dul-ay" all mixed together.

As they grew older ...

It was normally you who stayed late when the children were sick ...

When they started to crawl ... and as they took their first steps ...

When they fell off the chair, or the table, or the bed, or the stairs ...

You cleaned wounds on knees and elbows

kissed them with your lips

whispered sweet assurances so your children will know

the pain will soon be gone...

You sang to them all sorts of songs, English or Visayan

written or invented (hah!)

You recited the alphabet with them ...

Told them stories - true and make-believe ...

Taught them how to fold their socks, how to tie their shoe laces, how to tuck in their shirts ...

You woke up early to prepare their breakfast, iron their uniforms, shine their shoes ...

Simultaneously while cleaning the house and preparing yourself

so you can bring them to school on time,

and wait for them outside their classrooms when they were in Nursery, Kinder 1, Kinder 2 ... 

Praying that they will participate ... cooperate ... and stay awake ... and not quarrel with their 

classmates;

You took time to face teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences ...

took in wholeheartedly reports of them misbehaving in school ...

of your boy reading his favorite book during classes;

or your daughter punching the class bully in his nose

(and you find yourself silently saying to yourself ...YES! that's, that's my girl!)

and a million other things you did (and still do even today)

... day in and day out ...

What makes a Mother a Mother?

All these and so much more ...

The sacrifices, the heartaches, the fears, the excitements, the worries, the anxieties ...

the joy, the happiness ...

and a million other things that make you as you are ...

Selfless ...

Sacrificing ...

Hoping ...

Praying ...

Who fed me from her gentle breast;

And hushed me in her arms to rest;

And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother."

~Anne Taylor

♥Evelyn and Leila ♥