My prayer on Mother's Day is for all you teen-age girls to give us older moms a break. Be grateful for the flood of hormones flowing into your bodies because they are the same ones abandoning ours. Know that as you anguish over a few blemishes on your otherwise soft, sweet complexions you are light years away from the inevitable wrinkles, sunspots and sagging skin that comes with age. And the wisdom that goes along with them.
Sweethearts, try to understand that as your hair grows bountiful and as luminous as your future prospects, our heads are losing luster, color and...uh, memory. Know that our bodies would also love to sleep until noon, but we don't have the time. As our mutual moods swing from maudlin tears to annoyance to fits of laughter, it is nature coming full circle. So ease up on us a bit, lest what comes around goes around and someday bites you in your own descending butts.
Darlings, bear in mind when our make up and mascara melts in front of your eyes we're having a hot flash and not turning into the wicked witch of the west. If we are irritable or say un-cool, stupid things in front of your friends, it makes us cringe inside to hurt or embarrass you. As waves of romance bring you ecstatic highs and crushing lows and best friends change into enemies overnight be reassured to see that our relationships have settled, if we are lucky into comfortable, but complex intimacies. Most importantly, as we reach out for a hug or put our fingers through your hair, we aren't trying to be cheesy or weird but wish to let you know that everything will be okay and we cherish you.
Watching you straddle the awkwardness of puberty, at once a little girl and a young babe, isn't easy for us older babes either. We are often overly protective as a lioness of her cubs, but just watch us be equally as fierce about guarding your independence and guiding your decisions. We know it is natural for you to demand autonomy and begin to separate from your family, but our maternal urge is to hold us together. So pay attention to the love and care we give you for it may come in handy one day if you choose motherhood for yourself. But please, God, don't do it anytime soon.
Perhaps one present for us ancient moms on Mother's Day would be some eau d' estrogen, but the most thrilling gift would be a little daughterly bouquet of patience mixed with a growing awareness of the deep bond of love we will share forever. Don't even bother with wrapping or bows; just deliver it with one of your beautiful smiles.
Read her daughter Brianna's response to this post here.