She sacrificed/sacrifices things she could've/should've had herself, making sure there was/is food on the table, clothes on our/our children's backs, cookies in the cookie jar, and so many other little things that were/are big things to us/our children.
She was/is the woman who raised us. She was/is the woman who may or may not have birthed our children, but took/takes care of them devotedly. She was/is keeper of the house. She was/is the laundress. She was/is chief cook and bottle washer. She was/is the window washer. She was/is a magician how she could/can stretch a budget as far as it could/can be stretched and still put wonderful meals and delicious treats on the table day after day. She was/is definitely the smartest shopper in our/our children's world. She was/is the floor mopper. She was/is a gardener. She was/is a soother of pain. She was/is a dryer of tears. She was/is a family "doctor" when it came/comes to cuts, scrapes, bumps and bruises. She was/is a scrubber of ears, elbows and knees. She was/is the woman who made her wardrobe last and last so we could/can have good clothes for school and work. She was/is the taxi driver, school room mother, class chaperone and phone caller for whatever church or school drive was/is happening. She was/is a caterer for the birthday parties, the holiday feasts or the casual home parties for friends. She was/is a baker of cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes and pies for the school and/or church charity drives, or for our/our child's birthday treat. She was/is the woman who made/makes sandwiches, cooks the hot dogs, or bakes cookies, brownies or Rice Krispies treats for our/our child's baseball, softball, basketball, soccer or hockey team's games or Saturday doubleheaders.
She was/is a homework helper and monitor. She was/is the most fair judge and jury when it came/comes to sibling disputes. She was/is the woman who bundled us/our children up on frigid winter mornings before we/they left for school or went outside to play. She was/is the woman who sprayed us/our children with the garden hose to cool us/them down on those hot summer days. She was/is the woman who couldn't/can't say no to the child who comes to the door selling candy, cookies, candles or anything else trying to raise money for schools' or church groups' special projects hoping others did/will do the same for us/our children. She was/is the most faithful person in our/our children's lives, always knowing and believing that God will never desert us/our children when, or if, times get tough. She was/is your best friend's "second mother" who set/sets the extra plate at the table so our/our child's friend could be a part of our family. She was/is the woman who always had/has baked goods, or potato chips, or pretzels, and juice or milk to put on the table for our/our children's friends who came to the house to play, study or work on school projects. She was/is the grandma who slips her grandchild a piece of candy or a dollar (or two), even though she knows the parents might be a little perturbed by her gesture.
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She was/is the wallpaperer when she thought/thinks it needed/needs to be done, she was/is the painter, when she thought/thinks that should have/should be done. She was/is the planner, packer and unpacker, and arranger of family outings and trips. She was/is the seamstress for our/our children's work and school clothes. She was/is a darner of our/our children's socks, a patcher of torn blue jeans, a sewer of buttons back onto shirts and jackets, a hemmer of pants, skirts dresses, and a taker out, or in, of our/our children's pants if or when the need arose/arises. She was/is a community volunteer. She was/is a teacher of bike riding. She was/is the person who taught us/our children to share what we/they had/have with others. She was/is the woman who led/leads us/our children by the examples she set/sets in how she lived/lives her life.She was/is the world's greatest problem-solver. She was/is the truest of true jugglers as she balanced/balances all these unbelievable tasks while she also worked/is working a second job as a store clerk or manager, or school teacher or administrator, or a doctor or nurse, or a dentist or hygienist, or a bank teller or manager, or line worker or supervisor or company CEO, or a waitress or bartender, or a politician, or a cleaner, or small business owner, or craft maker and seller. She was/is a jack of all trades and a master all of them when it came/comes to her children.
Who was/is this Wonder Woman, this woman who could/can leap tall buildings in a single bound if she felt she needed to, this woman who could/can outrun a speeding bullet, or was/is more powerful than a locomotive if it would/will help her children? We knew/know her as "mom," an amazing woman with amazing powers matched by no other human on Earth. And today we take time to honor mom, whether she was/is our mother or anyone else's. I know it's a cliche sometimes, but the only way to describe mom is to turn that title upside down.
Happy Mother's Day to my mom (R.I.P.), Sally's mom (R.I.P.), all the moms (special shout out to my daughters) and especially to Sally. To all of you, this is your day. I salute you!