Random Motherly Thoughts

Yes, I'm a mom. I'm also a step-mom, a grandmother, a mother-in-law and a godmother (not the fairy variety). I'm a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a great aunt and a great-great aunt (yikes, that really sounds old), a cousin, and oh yes, how could I forget? I'm a wife and a First Mate. I'm called Marcie, Sis, Auntie, Nana and sometimes, sweetheart. With all those relationship titles and monikers, how could I be anything but happy that I'm such a fortunate woman?

There have been times in the past when our house was full of kids … our kids and other peoples' kids. They came, they went; sometimes they stayed for awhile. There were trying times that I wasn't sure we'd get through and happy times that I wished would never end. Looking back, I'm so glad that all of these kids, these grown adults now with kids of their own, were part of my life. I'm glad to be a Mom and a Nana and an auntie. I can't imagine not being a sister nor David's wife. It's made me who I am and I'm thankful.

I've certainly made my share of mothering mistakes. My kids still remind me of that fact, though less vehemently than they did when they were 15. There are no manuals that come with kids. You've got to figure it out as you go and I didn't always figure it quite right. The kids turned out fine though … despite my lapses in perfect mothering.

Whether you're a mom or not, if you're a woman, I'm sure you've done some mothering in your life … nurturing, counseling, encouraging, consoling, loving. It doesn't take a biological event to be a mom, it only takes a heart.

Happy Mother's Day!

The Power of MOM

There have been songs and poems about mothers since the beginning of time. She gave you life and nurtured you. She tucked you in, read you bedtime stories, stuck band-aids on your cuts and kissed your boo-boos. She baked cookies and made special meals because she knew your favorites. She brought hot chocolate to the ice-skating pond to warm you up. She loaned you money when you were a bit tight on funds. She told you family stories and sang old songs. She's been an advisor and a confidante. Sometimes the roles reverse and you have the privilege of giving some of that nurturing back to her. For all these things we are grateful. So whether it's Mom, Mother, Ma, Mere, Mama, Grandma, Nana, Abuelita or Yaya… or whether you're an aunt, daughter, sister or a best friend who's mothered and nurtured someone along the way … from here in Cape Town, South Africa … we salute you! Happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day 2014

At the risk of appearing lazy, we thought we'd share with you the same mother/baby photos we used last year for Mother's Day. We thought they were a perfect way of celebrating a holiday that's pretty much universal around the globe … a day to say “Thanks, Mom, for all you do … all you've done.”

To all the mothers, grandmothers, great and great-greats … all the aunts and sisters and good friends who have mothered us along the way, we wish you a Happy Mother's Day from down under.