I wrote this several decades ago, but no matter how much time passes, it is still so true!

As Mother’s Day approaches, I was thinking about something that my young son said to me several years ago. We had been talking about college, and what it means to get a degree. I had told him about my own college experiences, including graduate work. He had listened intently, and then asked in an almost accusatory tone, “You went to that much school and only became a mom?”

I had laughed then. And now, years later, it still makes me smile. That sentence is right up there near the top of the list of priceless things my kids have said to me. On that special list, it’s right under the question, “Did you vote for George Washington?” and is also near the sweet proclamation once uttered by my younger son, “Mom, I’ll love you even when you’re dead and I have a new Mom.”

Ah, yes… being a mom. It is definitely something unique and wonderful.

But sometimes I wonder, am I really appreciated? I think about all that I do without getting so much as a nod of thanks. After all, I have impacted two lives! I have molded my two sons and opened up their world to so many things.

And, what about the almost “Super Mom” type qualities that I exhibit in getting it “all” done…and you moms out there know what I mean by “all”: chauffeur, chef, cleaning service, nurse, referee, project manager, school volunteer, homework helper, pc graphics/typing/internet surfing support, and buyer of trading cards and other “must-haves” of the moment. So many things to keep the family running smoothly (and keep two young sons content and organized)!

But, are these the things that really make me “mom” to my two kids?

No, not really. People could be hired to do most of those things.

If my own young sons were asked about why they appreciate me as their mom, I’d hope to hear at least a few of the following (although, admittedly, they’d probably be stated along with, “because she buys me toys”):

• Because she reads with us at night and always gives us night-time tuck-ins (including the long “rituals” that irritate Dad)
• Because she goes bug hunting with us (and once caught a tarantula, alive, and let us keep it as a pet)
• Because she knows the name and personality of every stuffed animal and pet (including every lizard, frog and toad)
• Because she decorates for every holiday and keeps the magic of Christmas alive (even though we’re suspicious about Santa shopping at Target)
• Because she volunteered at cub scout camp (and although bitten by a nasty spider requiring a trip to the doctor, said she’d do it again next year)
• Because she loves doing art projects and crafts with us (even the really messy ones) and always proudly displays them
• Because she didn’t get too mad when we dented her new car (even though it was the first week she had it)
• Because she is always interested in us and our activities (and in an almost spooky way, always seems to know what we’re up to, especially when it’s not good)
• Because although she sometimes says she doesn’t like us at the moment, she’ll remind us that she always will love us (no matter what).

So, with this list in mind I go about my day. I feed the hermit crab, I do the errands and know that there is baseball practice and karate lessons later today…oh, and a trip to the scouting store and pet store (to buy live crickets for the critters).

But the everyday stuff evaporates in my mind as I relish the memories from this list: the day we caught Sigmund (the tarantula), the funerals we held for Hopper (a tree frog) and Froggo (a toad), rainy day cookies being baked and eaten, the hours spent together molding Play-doh masterpieces, snuggling while reading the same bedtime story for the tenth night in a row… so many memories.

And, when I look down at my nails – which are unpainted and neglected (and seriously messed up after a recent glue-gun incident), that’s one of those moments when I realize that while I may not be “Super Mom,” I am still a super mom.

And that is my thanks for being a mom, and is all I’ll ever need.

And tonight, when my younger son says, “Mom, I’ll love you until the stars turn into fish” (a favorite night-time saying from a favorite bedtime story), that’s one of those moments when I realize I am loved.