The Look Of Motherly Love

I am thinking about all of the mothers I know. Each of them on a truly unique path with their child. More children. More unique paths.

This is my mom. Holding the face of her 44 year old gay son on the dance floor at his wedding one week ago. I’m super grateful to my baby brother (and best man) for capturing this moment. Not every child gets to have an ongoing relationship with their mother, for numerous reasons, let alone one that is fueled with ongoing communication, affirmation and support. To that point, I am endlessly grateful. Wish I could take credit lol. But we don’t get to choose our mothers. Nor do mothers, their children. 

And no relationship, parental or otherwise, miraculously becomes something equally valued and loved, without effort and intentional connection from both parties. Day. After day. After day. After day.

It certainly starts one-sided though. Nurturing, feeding, comforting. Then fostering, reading, cheering. To teaching, disciplining, reasoning and encouraging. And somewhere in there – a new, soulful voice begins to engage, challenge, love and respect. Ideally, anyway. For me – I’ll never know anything else. Nor will I ever know what it feel likes to be a mother – with a child like me.

I guess I just want to give a big shout out to all the mothers out there. I see you all around me – all with completely different stories and relationships with each of your kids – and I think the only beautiful common denominator is that your love – your commitment – is never, ever EVER done. Even – when unthinkably – you survive that child. The journey of that unique relationship never ends. Never stops evolving.

I guess it’s fair to say that the flip side of that is true as well. For me, anyway. I hope for you as well. We all only have one mother each. Well. Birth mother. (But I’m guessing you get that I’m generally gonna be coming at these topics from a more spiritual place, than actual.) And though I know it can be quite a subject of debate – I believe we’re brought into the exact life we’re supposed to be. Mothers and all.

Makes me curious to hear about your experience and connection as mothers or with mothers. And if possible, what would you like to bring to that relationship – today?

Onedayonward. So grateful to be still forging onward with my beautiful mama by my side – holding my face on this day – finally witnessing one of the life-long dreams of her first born – feeling the fullness of every joy and sorrow I’ve ever know. I think I could write a novel about my relationship with my mom. Who knows – maybe I will someday. 🙂 And it will be a love story. A story of dreaming. Of courage. Of acceptance. Of growth. Of art.