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Colby gave me my award yesterday and told me that he was giving me the award for Best Mom ever. It was such an unexpected surprise and I am honored to accept it. I would like to thank my husband, Aaron, for his contribution in me becoming a mother. I would like to thank my mother, grandmother and sister from whom I have taken so much advice and inspiration from. I would like to thank all the other mothers out there who have never passed judgment on me when my child screamed at me in the parking lot, or when I might have, on a rare occassion, screamed back. I would like to thank all the people who didn't roll their eyes at me or huff in anger while we were struggling to get through a meal at a restaurant. I would like to thank those who offered to help push my grocery cart to the car when my hands were busy trying to hang onto the kids. I would like to thank all the women who approached me and said, "Hey, I've been there. You'll not only get through it, but you'll wish you could go back and do it all over again." I would also like to thank those nice teenage boys who held the door open for me; that little moment turned my frown upside down and I ended up having one of the best days with my kids ever! I would like to thank all the people who have a part in the building and upkeep of city parks. Your time and commitment to bettering the community has provided many hours of fun for me and the boys. I would like to thank the Arbor Mist company who helped me on more than one occassion to take time and put myself first (after the kids had gone to bed, of course). I would like to thank Colby's teachers- all of who have contributed to the betterment of my child and, in doing so, have bettered me. We make a great team! Most importantly, I would like to thank my children, Colby and Kaiden, for inspiring me to be better. I want to be better, I try to be better and I know I am better because of you. You have taught me about love and kindness, as well as patience and understanding. You are my greatest loves and I will treasure you always.
Lastly, I would like to dedicate this award to each and every mother out there. We all deserve a piece of this.
And The Award Goes To...Me!?!
Posted on Nov 4, 2009 9:05 AM
in response to: hugmamma
aaronndeb and hugmamma, Your posts brought tears to my eyes. And I thank you for sharing your award. Here is a hug for each of you from another mother. (((((aaronndeb)))))) ((((((hugmamma)))))).
I am curious how old your boys are now?
I have two also that are 21 and 13. They are doing very well. Raising them has been a pleasure and while there were everyday challenges, all in all it has gone well thanks in large part to a supportive, understanding,husband and father.
While the boys have done well through the years it has not been without a certain amount of physical and emotional angst with me that I am still working through. I am meeting with a lot of success as of this past year and am sure will meet with more as I learn to not be resistant to lessons and messages as they come up for me.
FYI My 21 year old (college junior) recently thanked me for doing such a good job with him!!! AND when he was still in High school at an awards banquet for achieving students, the most amazing thing happened. The commentator was reading comments the students made about people they would like to thank. his comments went something like this: i would like to thank everyone that has influenced me in my life from the ____ I met in _ to the ____ from _ but most of all MY MOm!! WOW in front of all those people. What a gift!!
I liked your description hugmamma, that your daughter "hired" you. I do recognize that these people are in our lives to teach us such important lessons. I know we are to teach them the social graces like how to eat with a fork and that we wear clothes when we go outside, but I think their lessons to us are at a much more profound level.
My younger son is teaching me that I am not the queen bee. I thought, or some part of me thought, I knew all the answers about parenting. I read every book out there on the subject and I knew everything. He has shown me differently and I am still learning from him as the way he needs me and the way he wants to be parented are different from the way I am comfortable doing it. He wants me on the sidelines and not on the field which is where I want to be. His lessons to me are helping me do a better job of taking care of myself but as I have said it has not been without an inward struggle.
Thank you for this post, sharing the award and your beautiful comment hugmamma that it only gets better. 
Your blog brings back memories; but, I like you, would do it all over again.
I want to thank you too for reminding me of all the kind deeds that strangers do to help us with the hardest job in the world.
My sons were 19 months apart and one afternoon while I was changing my two month old child his older brother decided to go in our back yard. I didn't worry because we had gates for their protection. When I finished changing the baby, I went out back and discovered the one gate hadn't been latched. I started running toward the front street not knowing what I might see. But to my surprise a young gentleman was walking my son to me. It just so happened that I knew him and I am sure he assumed that the young man out in the middle of the road directing traffic belonged to me. He just smiled as he put my sons hand in mine. Yeah, being a mother is the hardest job in the world, and if you're lucky you'll get to be a grandmother too. And that is real easy!
Here. Here. I'll toast to that! An empty nester now, my 23 year old daughter "hired" me for the best, most important job of my life, being her mom. The greatest part is that the rewards continue no matter how old she and I become. We are ardent supporters of each other's hopes and dreams. We're best girlfriends, sharing recipes, gossip, advice and most of all love, love, love.
Enjoy your children, for it only gets better...hugmamma.