Happy Mother's Day

Beckett was so excited about Mother's Day that he woke up at 1:15 this morning to celebrate. Actually, it was just gas, but it did require my assistance and comforting. He has been sleeping so well at night with no disturbances, but he coincidentally broke his streak on Mother's Day morning.

As I sat rocking him in the glider during the wee hours of the morning, I really began thinking about Mother's Day. I began thinking about how blessed I am to be a mother, even if it does mean waking up in the middle of the night. I've only ever purchased two things off of Craigslist, one of which was the glider (rocking chair) for Beckett's nursery. Blake and I went to pick up the glider from this mansion on Sullivan's Island. When I asked the mother if it was comfortable, she said, "I don't know. My nanny is the only person who has ever sat in it, but she says it's comfortable." After I got over the jealousy of not having a nanny during the midnight hours, I realized how sad that was. The mother had never rocked her baby to sleep. I'm not judging her because I know that the mother did what she felt was best for her and her child, but I would hate to miss out on the hours of bonding and quality time that I have spent with Beckett in that rocker. So, everytime I have to wake up in the middle of the night to rock Beckett, I try to remind myself that rocking my baby is a privilege that many mothers do not get to experience. Does it always make me less grumpy to be awake at 1:00 am? No, but it often helps change my perspective.

As I sat pondering the meaning of Mother's Day early this morning, a part of me ached for our good friends who have been trying to have a baby, friends who have lost babies and friends who have lost mothers. Another part of me was ecstatic for some good friends who are adopting and bringing their baby home from Korea soon and for other friends who are expecting. Wow, what a day full of emotions. Some sad, some happy, some dreaded, and some excited.

I will never know or understand why some of us were able to have children and others were not. What I do know is that I was blessed with one of the best mothers and mother-in-laws on the planet. I also know that they learned from two of the best mothers, who are now both in heaven, but left their legacy on their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Thank you, Mom, and Mrs. Bonnie, for setting an excellent example for me to follow.

So, I did a lot more thinking/functioning than I usually do at 1:00 am. Do I still think that Beckett waking up at 1:00 was a coincidence on Mother's Day? Yes. But I do think that God was able to use it to remind me what an honor and privilege it is to be a mother. Happy Mother's Day to all past, present, and future mommies!