In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve invited my daughter, Madison, to guest blog this week. I gave her the simple task of sharing what the world would be like without moms .  Too often, we wait until after mom is gone or far away to realize the power and gift of her presence. It is Mother’s Day weekend and this is her gift to me.  It makes me smile a lot, and cry just a little, as I look at life through her 17-year old eyes. Blessings~Kim

A life without a mother.

Let’s just picture how terrifying this would be.

My siblings and I were once left with my father for a week while my mom was in China. We ate a combination of pancakes, Ramen noodles, and triple-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Every time we cried or said we missed mom, my dad would feed us ice cream to make us stop. The house was never truly cleaned until the day my mom came back. Clothes didn’t match, and showers were avoided.

Needless to say, it was a terrifying week; even with ice cream.

But all of this just scratches the surface of what mom’s do. It doesn’t reveal what they are for us.

They are strong, but soft.

My mom encouraged me as an elementary student to “jackslap any boy who bothered me.” If you’ve ever arm-wrestled a mom, you know that there is muscle that seemingly comes from nowhere.

But mothers aren’t just physically strong. They are mentally and emotionally tough. They handle screaming newborns at three in the morning, resisting the urge to throw them in the snow (that was me!)

They bear the pain of children leaving home.

They discipline but always forgive.

But also, mothers are soft. They know when you need a hug.

They walk into your room while you’re crying and tell you that you are going to make it.

They walk with experience, having often been where you are now. Naomi, from the book of Ruth, is a perfect example of this. She was soft and kind towards her daughter-in-laws. Yet, she was strong enough to travel all that way home and push Ruth to make bold, dangerous decisions for her good.

Without moms, the world would be hard and cold. That motherly intuition would be gone. Hugs would never be the same. At the same time, the world would be too soft. Boundaries would be lacking.

There would be no one in the world to tell you to jackslap someone, but ONLY in the right situation. Who else can do that so well? Moms strike just the right balance between strong and soft.

They are wise, but humble.

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s mom, Caroline Ingalls, was described as “wise as serpent; gentle as a dove.” Mothers know a lot! They have lived a lot of life and experienced so much. 

My mom taught me how to read; one of the best gifts she could have ever given me. She also tried to teach me how to do a cartwheel. I later figured it out myself (she said she was too old for cartwheels.)

Moms are teachers in this world without even trying. They teach us what to like and dislike; but more importantly, the difference between right and wrong.

Even though mothers are so knowledgeable, they are humble about it. My mom didn’t make fun of me for not knowing how to make meatloaf. Instead, she taught me.

Moms don’t get much recognition for all that they do and all that they are. They get one day a year. That one day will never be enough time to express our thankfulness to them. Everyday, they put their nose to the grindstone to provide and care for us. When you think about all they have to complain about, you realize that they really don’t complain a lot.

Without moms, our world be ignorant. Growing up wouldn’t be the same. Who would be there to teach us how to live life to the fullest?  

Without mothers, our world might be arrogant. No one would be there to remind us of how much they do. They show what hard work without recognition is.

There would be no reason to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Mothers are CRAZY!

I’m pretty sure children make mothers go crazy. There is no explainable reason for their behavior other than too many nights without sleep and forceful love for a crazy child.

My mom is crazy. She rides bikes through the sand while I run. She tried to teach me to cartwheel. She makes me text her each time I arrive or depart someplace. She encourages me to chase my dreams despite the pain that my leaving brings her.

Moms are crazy in the best way.

Life without them would be incredibly dull! There would be a lack of color in the world at large. There would be no crazy drama on school mornings as we try to leave the house. (Please tell me this happens in other households!)

The world would lack tears and laughter. It would have kids with crazy, frozen faces because a mom never told them that their faces would stick!

So this Mother’s Day, don’t just thank your mother. Take a moment to ponder what life would be like without her. Then realize how depressing and terrifying that idea is so you can truly appreciate what mothers bring to the world.

By: Madison Waldie