They call us mama, mommy, mother and then probably on occasion, a less sweet name muttered under their displeased kid breath. But probably our most known name is Mom. Within those three letters we embody countless other names. Some of these names make us swell with pride; others resemble the us that imperfectly loves, day in and day out, the best way we know how.

M.O.M.

Maker of Meatloaf-

We know that meatloaf isn't all that pretty. We also know that any entrée connected to the word "loaf" usually doesn't set your mouth to watering. But we try. There is effort and there's love in the meatloafs and casseroles that we dutifully make for you when we'd usually rather be eating Mexican food with a nice waitress who keeps our glass full. We cook for you. Some of us are great at it and some of us even enjoy it. But I guarantee there are countless nights we cook because simply because that's what moms do.

Meddler of Media-

We're nosy, us moms. We care about what you're doing. So we stalk you. We look on your Facebook or Instagram to see what you've been up to. We want to know who your friends are. We read your hashtags making sure you stay away from the inappropriate. Sometimes we check your phone or your playlist on your ipod. You probably call it meddling. We call it monitoring. Either way, I promise it's done in love.

Manager of Mess-

This is probably one of your least favorite jobs of ours. Trust me. It's one of our least favorite jobs. We really don't enjoy sweeping or cleaning toilets that much. And believe or not, it's probably even harder to enlist you in helping out with the unnumbered list of chores. You often have to be asked more than once to pick up the shoes in the basket at the bottom of the stairs. And when you do pick them up, they're often thrown haphazardly into the wrong closets. Still we clean. And we train you to clean with the hope that you'll be a capable mom or dad yourself someday.

Mender of Maladies-

We hate it when you're sick, but I actually think this is one of the jobs we excel best at. When you have an awful stomach virus, we keep you hydrated. But in addition to that, we get your favorite blanket and help keep you comfortable. We get sick at heart when you're sick. We check your temperature umpteen times believing that if we keep taking it, your fever will go down. We swipe the hair off of your forehead and are at your side often before you can call out our name.

Mover of Mountains-

Moms move mountains. We figure out how you can make it to two important events at the same time. We buy a last-minute swimsuit when you find upon getting ready that last year's swimsuit won't fit anymore. I still remember the peach and brown swimsuit my mom bought me at Bill's Dollar Store on the way to a friend's party. I don't think I appreciated it as much then as I do looking back.

Maker of Molehills-

We show up in a big way in times of panic. But we're also good at freaking out about that dime-size ketchup stain on your new white shirt or the way your binder looks with its papers busting out in fifty directions with crumpled, bent edges.

Magnifier of Merits-

We know your good qualities. We know that you have a special handshake with the kid that many other kids ignore. In our eyes, you're the kindest kid that was ever created. We see how you have an uncanny ability to make people smile and we're flabbergasted when anybody (besides us) has the gall to not be endeared to you.

Manipulator, or (as I like to call it) Motivator

Though we see your good deeds and brilliant talents, we have an eye for teachable moments. Like the time you're at a ballgame and you have a whole handful of Airheads and you don't seem to notice the kid beside you eyeing your sweets. We mention that you "might" want to share. When you reveal that "actually you're not really into sharing at the moment", we often remind you of several good reasons that you really do want to share your Airheads candy. When you get older you'll ask why we don't' just tell you to share the Airheads instead of giving you the choice (……..but really not giving you the choice). You'll say that we manipulate you to do things we think you should do. We like to call it motivation.

Memorizer of Moments-

We tell everybody funny stories like how you "asked if we could pray first" that time you knew you were in trouble for your misbehavior at church.  We remember how, at five, you held up spinach leaves pierced by your fork and said in your tone, disapproving of the salad, "What kind of sick joke is this?"  We remember small moments, and moments big enough that the memory lodges our throats and clenches tight our hearts. -Like the time you spent a week in the hospital with RSV and pneumonia and the moment the doctor said "She's not out of the woods". We remember your first fist fight too.  But it's funny.  The moments are remembered, but how we look back on them sometimes changes.

Murmurer of Melodies-

You may not remember, but we sang to you when you were small enough to be curled up in our arms. When you were a bit older we sang "You'll be in my Heart" alongside when you were still enough to watch Tarzan. You may not know it, but we still sing over you. You may not hear it. Our melody may be but a murmer, but you still make us sing.

We could go on endlessly. We're the

Manual of Manners

Mapper of Missions........

 

We are M.O.M.

What does M.O.M. stand for to you?