Mothers...Where would we be without them?

The answer to that is we wouldn't 'Be'. They gave us life, fed us, burped us, nagged us, changed us (the nappies that is), loved us and Yes - it has to be said Mums are Special! Whether yours was a Pageant or a Tiger breed, or a cuddly duddly 'eat up your butty baba' mum - you know the type - she still puts a hot water bottle in her 50 year old divorced son's bed, and wraps his pyjamas around it, ever since he returned to her, when that "B.... of a wife threw him out" - She's still your Mama! As in the words of an old maudlin Irish tune, which my daddy loved to hum: -
 "love her while she's living, though feeble old and grey - you'll never miss a mother's love 'til she's buried beneath the clay". That song would bring a tear, even to a Tiger moma's eye.

I am happy to say I LOVE MY MOMMY! She is good, kind. beautiful, perfectionistic, nagging (Virgo! whatcha expect?) - the nagging which she does for my own good, or so I like to think. As I speak she is lying in a hospital bed in Dublin...waiting...and waiting and wondering..."What will be the end of me?"
None of us know. We can only pray and hope. That is why this Mother's Day was extra special for me. I got to celebrate it twice. The first time in Ireland on April 3rd with my Mother in our family home. It was the first time since I became a mother myself 22 years ago, that I got to celebrate a Mother's Day with my Momma, which meant a lot to me. In Canada we celebrate on a different date than Ireland, much to my chagrin,

When I returned to Canada, I had another special Mother's Day waiting to be enjoyed and boy did I milk it for all it was worth "Hey guys, empty the dishwasher...it's Moma's Day..." "Walk the dogs...it's Moma's Day..." "Empty the dryer.. it's Moma's Day..." In fairness to my lovely ladies - they did it all and MORE. I awoke to the sniff of a big huge box of chocolates under my nose, a gorgeous blouse from Ralph, my fav. designer which was OTT but I love it and am wearing it as I write and they assured me they "got in on sale mum". I only like Ralph on a 50% deal. Their special greeting cards are now on the wall in my kitchen so I can enjoy them on a daily basis. I even got one from the mutts - Lulu, Chi Chi, Tessa and Sonny and Cher, my love birds who put on a great performance, God bless their little hearts.

When I read their card, and saw the little animal prints on it, I forgot about all the times I cursed them from here to eternity for pooing, peeing, vomiting, clawing and shedding on the furniture, not to mention the times  the Vet robbed me, they gobbled the meat left carelessly on the table and 'all' my Jimmy Choos (lol). Still, I'm keeping them - my animal kingdom are more precious to me than any Persian rug. They give me the LOVE. And when I look at Lulu happily snoozing in the sun I say to myself 'That gal sure knows how to live - just hang loose! That's the lesson my pets teach me - unconditional love and just 'hang loose' Mama.

After the celebrations this past Sunday, I was energised to clean out some clutter, going back aeons. I found a charming little poetry book and I don't know where it came from. It is called 'In the Kitchen'. I sat in the sun with my sensible little dog Lulu, and took some time out to enjoy the contents. I loved this little poem which sums up mothers for me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

REWARD

"I haven't accomplished a thing", she said,
"In all this day I just baked bread,
I patted a dog with a stepped-on tail,
And baked a pie for a charity sale.

"I wasted an hour climbing hills
But I found arbutus and daffodils.
And a neighbour who was ill and
couldn't get out and about
Was glad to know that the flowers are out.

"I made some jam...it's a funny rule
But children are fond of it after school.
And I sat and talked to the man I hired
to plant new grass...he looked so tired.

"I wish I had something worthwhile to show
For the hurrying way the hours go."
But the Angel who looks after women who cook
Put her down for a star in His great golden book.


So to all you Moma Bears out there - whether you are a Mom to animals, or your own children, I wish you a Wonderful Mother's Year - a day is not enough!

Love,

Delisha xxx