Mothership
🎶 Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all 🎶
—Jimmy Buffett, A Pirate Looks at Forty
There’s an old saying: “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
Well, isn’t that the truth?
Now, this squall girl isn’t about to kick up any storms. Things are pretty peaceful here—I mean, as peaceful as this home can be. We always seem to be navigating 80% chop and 20% smooth sailing, but that just makes it interesting. If there wasn’t some kind of noise or chaos in my house, I’d be a bit worried.
My first love came into this world two weeks late. I think he was resting and gearing up for his arrival. He came in loud and continued to make his presence known with long days and late nights as he struggled with colic. Once he was finally on a schedule, he learned how to throw himself out of the crib—then came the toddler bed. With free rein of his room, bedtimes became all about building Thomas the Train structures, playing NBA court, and turning nights into exciting adventures.
As he grew, he swapped the trains for a baseball glove and set us on a path of years on the bleachers, visiting new places every weekend with his travel team. That journey eventually took him away to New Hampshire for four years of college.
Next week, he’ll have a birthday that puts him in his upper 20s—and two weeks after that, he’ll move into his first purchased home.
The second came out as quiet as a mouse (yet now is the loudest in the house). After lazing around in the belly and gaining ounces, the doctor decided he needed to be evicted. A planned induction was set, and within a few hours of check-in, the sweet boy came into the world.
Well… actually, he came out with suction and forceps because he missed his alarm and wanted to sleep in. Once woken, he was a walk in the park. If there were an illustration for Easy Baby in the dictionary, his photo would be next to it.
He’s always been the one to lend a hand, ask how you’re doing, and walk into a room with a smile. He spread his wings (and overspent his food budget!) at college in Rhode Island and is now working in the boating industry.
Let me tell you—if you’re in the thick of it, with little ones still needing your attention every five minutes, being loaded into the car with snacks and drinks, rushed to athletic events, or waking you at night because of monsters under the bed:
It might feel like a lot right now, but don’t blink. In a flash, they’ll be building their own lives, and you’ll find yourself looking back at these moments with longing—while celebrating the adults they’re becoming.
So, happy Mother’s Day to all the women steering the children of your hearts—whether they’re kids or fur babies, or anyone to whom you’ve given your motherly love. You are appreciated, loved, and celebrated this weekend. Enjoy the gifts given not only on Sunday but every day before and every day after.
