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May 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Every year, I share with you the most inspirational Mother’s Day pieces that best express the
sentiments in our effort to recognize our precious mothers. I hope you enjoy the following one:
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up
puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's
here."
This is for the mothers who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies
who can't be comforted.
This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on
their blouses and diapers in their purse.
This is for all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween Costumes;
and for all the mothers who DON'T.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took
those babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football, hockey or soccer
games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you
see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their
kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair
when they stomp their feet and scream for ice
cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who
count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse
happens.
This is for all the mothers who sat down with
their children and explained all about making
babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who
wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.
This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so
their children can eat. For all the mothers who
read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year.
And then read it again. "Just one more time."
This is for all the mothers who taught their
children to tie their shoelaces before they started
school. And for all the mothers who opted for
Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their
sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
This is for every mother whose
head turns automatically when a
little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd,
even though they know their own
offspring are at home -- or even away
at college.
This is for all the mothers who
sent their kids to school with
stomach aches, assuring them they'd
be just FINE once they got there,
only to get calls from the school
nurse an hour later asking them to
please pick them up. Right away.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair
green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did
the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in
horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come
home safely from a war.
What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability
to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear
down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?
Is it the jolt that it takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on
the back of a sleeping baby?
Is it the panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in
the door and know they are safe again in your home?
Or is it the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a
fire, a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers
stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all; for all of us. Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we
can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray. Please pass along to all the
Moms in your life.
-anon
To all of you in the Fishkill Plains school community, I wish you bright and beautiful days filled
with gentle peace. I wish you all gratitude and happiness this and every other Mother’s Day!
Warmly yours,
Sylvia A. Epstein, Principal
“Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall." -anon