I thought this was really nice:<P> Subject: Mothers<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the<BR>sandbox.<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have to time to make it.<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpets.<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when a little<BR> >> voice<BR> >> says, "because I love you best."<BR> >><BR> >> Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or<BR> >years<BR> >> or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom...<BR> >><BR> >> The Images of Mother:<BR> >><BR> >> 4 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mommy can do anything!<BR> >><BR> >> 8 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!<BR> >><BR> >> 12 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.<BR> >><BR> >> 14 YEARS OF AGE ~ Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.<BR> >><BR> >> 16 YEARS OF AGE ~ Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.<BR> >><BR> >> 18 YEARS OF AGE ~ That old woman? She's way out of date!<BR> >><BR> >><BR> >> 25 YEARS OF AGE ~ Well, she might know a little bit about it.<BR> >><BR> >> 35 YEARS OF AGE ~ Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.<BR> >><BR> >> 45 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?<BR> >><BR> >> 65 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wish I could talk it over with Mom.<BR> >><BR> >><BR> >> The Beauty of A Woman<BR> >><BR> >> The beauty of a woman<BR> >> Is not in the clothes she wears,<BR> >> The figure that she carries,<BR> >> Or the way she combs her hair.<BR> >> The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,<BR> >> Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.<BR> >> The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,<BR> >> But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.<BR> >> It is the caring that she lovingly gives,<BR> >> The passion that she shows,<BR> >> And the beauty of a woman<BR> >> With passing years-only grows!<P>Blessed be.<P><P>------------------<BR>Keridwen

you can't do this to me........<P>I am out of kleenex......<P>i am using my shirt.....<P>now I have to change my shirt....<P><BR>Dylan<P>mine is 4 right now......he just told me that he loves me....<P>bawling........i am bawling big time.....<P>blessed be....may she keep you in her grace<P>

I have a good one that every mom I talk to agrees with......<P>Subject: a mom's wisdom<BR>My husband came home today and saw me sitting on the couch,<BR>toddler<BR>on<BR>one knee, and baby nursing on the opposite breast. I was trying to<BR>turn<BR>the<BR>pages of a book with the hand not attached to the infant, while<BR>listening<BR>for the sound of the stove buzzer, which would indicate that<BR>tonight's<BR>pork<BR>chops were at the stage between "well-done" and "the dog gets<BR>tonight's<BR>entree." My husband looked at me innocently, and asked "So, did<BR>you do<BR>anything today?" It's a good thing that most of my appendages were<BR>otherwise<BR>engaged, as I was unable to jump up and throttle him to death. This<BR>was<BR>probably for the best, as I assume that asking a stupid question is<BR>not<BR>grounds for murder in this country. Let me back up a bit, and<BR>explain what<BR>me to this point in my life. I was not always bordering on the<BR>brink<BR>of<BR>insanity. On the contrary, a mere four years ago, I had a good<BR>job,<BR>steady<BR>income, and a vehicle that could NOT seat a professional sports<BR>team, and<BR>me,<BR>comfortably. I watched television shows that were not hosted by<BR>singing<BR>blue dogs. I went to bed later than nine o'clock at night. I<BR>preferred<BR>sex<BR>to<BR>sleeping in. I laughed at those people who drove halfway across the<BR>country<BR>hauling a tent trailer, two screaming kids, drooling dogs, and<BR>called it<BR>a<BR>holiday. Now I have become one of them! What happened? The stick<BR>turned<BR>blue! I have traded in my Victoria's Secrets lingerie for cotton<BR>briefs<BR>and a<BR>firm support nursing bra. Good-bye, Garth Brooks. Little Bear,<BR>Blues<BR>Clues<BR>and Hey it's Franklin! My idea of privacy is getting the use the<BR>bathroom<BR>without a two-year old banging on the door, and the baby spinning<BR>the<BR>toilet<BR>paper roll from the wheel all over the bathroom. And I finally<BR>understand<BR>that the term "Stay-At-Home Mom" does not refer to a parent who no<BR>longer<BR>works outside the house, but rather to one who never seems to get<BR>out the<BR>front door. So here I sit, children in hand, wondering how to<BR>answer my<BR>beloved husband. DID I DO ANYTHING TODAY?<BR>Well,<BR>I think I did, although not much seems to have gotten accomplished.<BR>I<BR>shared breakfast in bed with a handsome young man. Of course, the<BR>breakfast<BR>consisted of a bowl of porridge and leftover cookie crumbs found<BR>between<BR>the<BR>sheets. The handsome young man is about thirty-four inches tall<BR>and only<BR>gets really excited at the sight of purple dinosaurs, toy trucks<BR>and<BR>French<BR>Fries. I got to take a relaxing stroll in the woods. Of course, I<BR>was on<BR>the lookout for frogs and lizards, and had to stop and smell the<BR>dandelions<BR>along the way. I successfully washed one load of laundry, moved<BR>the load<BR>that was in the washer into the dryer, and the dryer load into the<BR>basket.<BR>The load that was in the basket is now spread out on the bed,<BR>awaiting my<BR>bedtime decision to actually put the clothes away or merely move<BR>them to<BR>the<BR>top of the dresser. I read two or three classics. Of course,<BR>Dickens and<BR>Shakespeare cannot take credit for these works, as we have moved<BR>on to<BR>the<BR>works of Seuss and Munsch. I don't think I will be making any<BR>trips to<BR>the<BR>Adult Section of my local library anytime soon. In between, I<BR>dusted,<BR>wiped,<BR>organized and rearranged. I kissed away the owies and washed away<BR>the<BR>tears.<BR>I scolded, praised, hugged, and tested my patience, all before<BR>noon.<BR>DID<BR>I DO ANYTHING TODAY? You betcha! I will now understand what people<BR>mean<BR>when they say that parenthood is the hardest job they will ever<BR>have. In my<BR>LBD<BR> (life before diapers) I was able to teach young minds how to divide<BR>fractions<BR>and write complex sentences, but I am unable to teach a strong<BR>willed<BR>two-year-old how to use the toilet. I was once able to navigate<BR>urban<BR>streets while talking on the car phone and looking for a decent<BR>radio<BR>station, but now I can't get the wheels on my stroller to all go in<BR>the<BR>same<BR>direction. I've graduated from university, written newspaper<BR>articles, and<BR>won awards, but can't figure out how to get carrot stains out of<BR>the<BR>carpet.<BR>I used to debate with my friends about politics, but now we discuss<BR>the<BR>merits of cloth versus disposables. And when did I stop talking in<BR>sentences<BR>that had more than five words? So, in response to my husband's<BR>inquiry,<BR>yes,<BR>I did do something today. In fact, I am one step closer to one of<BR>life's<BR>greatest accomplishments. No, I did not cure AIDS or forge World<BR>Peace, but<BR>I<BR>did hold a miracle in my arms. Two, in fact. My children are my<BR>great<BR>accomplishment, and the opportunity to raise them is my greatest<BR>challenge.<BR>I don't know if my children will grow up to be great leaders or<BR>world-class<BR>brain surgeons. Frankly, I don't care, as long as they grow up to<BR>be<BR>happy<BR>and fulfilled. They are my greatest joys, even though I sometimes<BR>cry<BR>myself<BR>to sleep at night in frustration. The point is, that today I got<BR>to watch<BR>my<BR>children take another step on the great journey of Life, and I even<BR>got to<P>point out some of the sites along the way. As challenging as<BR>parenthood<BR>is,<BR>it is also equally rewarding, because we are using all our wisdom,<BR>our<BR>talent<BR>and skills to help forge a new person. It is this person, these<BR>people,<BR>who, in turn, will use their gifts to create our future. So every<BR>nursery<BR>rhyme I recite, every swing I push, every little hand I hold is<BR>SOMETHING!<BR>And I did it today!!!!!!<P><BR>Lesa<P>------------------<BR>"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and<BR> lean not unto thine own understanding." -Proverbs 3:5<BR>Take care and God Bless.<P> lms20ish@jobe.net

Soullous, could I use your other sleeve - I'm out of Kleenex too and suffering the worst PMS of this decade (ok, only 2 months in but it isn't fun).<P>Thanks all. Going to pick the kids up early from school, bring them home and work on our snow fort. <P>Would like to add another. I keep this one on my fridge and read it often. <P>My hands were busy through the day;<BR>I didn't have much time to play<BR> the little games you asked me to -<BR>I didn't have much time for you.<BR>I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,<BR>But when you'd bring your picture book<BR> and ask me please to share your fun<BR>I'd say; "a little later son."<BR>I'd tuck you in all safe at night<BR>And hear your prayers, turn out the light,<BR>Then tip-toe softly to the door...<BR>I wish I'd stayed a minute more.<BR>For life is short, the years rush past...<BR>A little boy grows up so fast.<BR>No longer is he at your side<BR> his precious secrets to confide.<BR>The picture books are put away,<BR>There are no longer games to play,<BR>No good-night kiss, no prayers to hear...<BR>That all belongs to yesteryear.<BR>My hands, once busy, now are still.<BR>The days are long and hard to fill.<BR>I wish I could go back and do<BR>The little things you asked me to.<P>Author Unknown<P>I have heard many times before, how many of us on our death beds would ever wish we had spent more time at the office?<P>Cheers!<BR>Lisa<BR><p>[This message has been edited by LisaM (edited February 11, 2000).]

ok, my shirt is in the laundry.....<P>I now have paper towels....<P>Patientlove (Nicole) sent me this once.....<P>FOR THE MOMMIES:<P><BR>Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: <P>"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am i going to live there being so small and helpless?" <P>God answered: <P>"Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you, and will take care of you" <P>The child replied: <P>"Here in Heaven I don't do anything but sing and smile. That is all I need to be happy. Will I be happy on earth?"<P>God answered: <P>"Your angel will sing for you, and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy." <P>The child continued: <P>"But how am I going to understand when people talk to me if I Don't know the language that humans speak?" <P>God answered:<P>"Your angel will speak to you the sweetest and most beautiful words you will ever hear. And, with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." <P>Still worried, the child asked God: <P>"What am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"<P>God replied: <P>"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." <P>Still concerned the child continued: <P>"But I hear that there are bad people on earth. Who will protect me?"<P>God replied: <P>"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life." <P>Anticipating the sadness of separation, the child said: <P>"But I will be sad because I will not see you anymore."<P>God reassured the child:<P>"Your angel will always talk to you about me, and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be right next to you." <P>At that moment there was much peace in heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child asked in a hurry:<P>"Oh, God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."<P>God replied solemnly: <P>"Your angel's name is of little importance. You will simply call her Mommy."<P>

::sniff, sniff::<BR> <BR>I have an interesting little anecdote about my 3 kids. I have a 13 year old son named Daniel who is smart, serious, determined and stubborn. My daughter Aislinn is 10 and she's creative, dreamy and artistic. My baby is a little stinker named Nathan who is 9 and has a natural sense of humor, makes friends easily and is quite the math whiz. My H and I in better times came up with slogans for them that completely describe their personalities in a few words. They are as follows:<P>Nathan - "It's better to ask forgiveness than permission."<P>Aislinn - "Don't worry, be happy "<P>and last but not least,<P>Daniel - "We're doomed!"<P>I wish you knew them, it makes it so funny!<P>Blessed Be.<P><P>------------------<BR>Keridwen