What is a Mother?

You Mother Is Your First Home. 
Your Mother is always with you. She is the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she is the smell of certain food you remember from your childhood, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. She's the cool hand on your forehead when you are not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space... not even death.   ~unknown

As a proud adoptive mother to a beautiful baby girl who has made all my dreams come true of being a mommy, I am offended by the NOUN definition of a mother.  

mother

[ ˈməT͟Hər ] 

NOUN

1. a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.
   
   

VERB

1. (mothering)
   bring up (a child) with care and affection:
   "the art of mothering"

I know of many woman who have birthed children and are horrible mothers; have abandoned their children, abused their children or have a nanny raise their children so they can live a self consumed life. Birthing a child does not make a woman a mother. I am sure all my mommy friends who have adopted and used a surrogate due to not being able to get pregnant would agree.

My definition of a mother: 
A mother is someone who loves unconditionally and places the needs of her children above her own, on a personal level, and not only with words, but also actions.  

I love these poems.


What is a Mother?

A Mother has so many things to do,
From washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.
She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews,
She bathes the children and washes their clothes.
When they forget to wash their faces clean,
And their clothes are the muddiest you've ever seen,
Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?
Of course, that is what a Mother will do.


Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,
Applying a bandage or giving them a pill?


Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?
She must never her duty shirk.
Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?
For missing things she must look and look?
Who becomes a listener to every heartache,
To every accomplishment that a child makes?
Who scolds their children when they are naughty,
Or remind them of God when they are to haughty?
Who tends her family with love and patience, too?
Of course that is what a Mother will do.
- Unknown






A Mother's Love




A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,

And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . . 
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.




Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women who love unconditionally and are the glue that holds their families together!