Mom has come and gone. She concocted a reasonable weekly meal plan that requires little to no thought or time. She dazzled me with the kind of patience and professional distraction techniques that I must have taught her back in my baby days. She even got on the floor and crawled through an empty stroller box to hijack a tantrum. She walked Maltsby, washed dishes, slept on the floor, donned her one dollar Coors tank, strolled through the tangled streets of our hood daily, got lost by following signs for what she thought was route 30 but were instead speed limit signs and judged nary a thing. And when we said good-bye two weeks later my throat was tight and my eyes watered and I could barely look her in the eye for fear of the noises and snotty mess I'd make. But when I did look I saw her see me as her kid. A look I couldn't have recognized pre-Eli and Henry a mere eighteen months ago. I saw violent bottomless love and the strength it must take to walk away from your kid as they face uncharted life.
This motherhood gig is tearing me down and building me anew.
Beautiful, Mama!
Posted by: raehan | July 23, 2006 at 03:13 PM
What did I say about not warning me before a tear-inducing post? Some of us are still pregnant you know!!! *wipes away a tear*
Seriously, though - beautifully written, your mom sounds amazing and I'm sure you're going to be as great as she is.
Posted by: Mrs. S | July 23, 2006 at 05:11 PM
Eye puddles here... Hooray for Moms! You and yours...
Posted by: Marie | July 23, 2006 at 09:01 PM
God, woman, you are a poet!
Print this up, send it to her, frame it-- it captures everything.
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 23, 2006 at 10:21 PM
Aahhhh! Mom. Sometimes nothing else will do.
Posted by: Heidi | July 23, 2006 at 11:00 PM
Goodness I can relate to the feelings shared between you and your Mom! My trips to Oklahoma and California were as equally heartwrenching as we said goodbye. We never could say a word - we just hugged tightly! The message was there. I remember dreading the departure back from California before I even arrived!! But so worth the visits and the wonderful memories!
Posted by: Unga Chunga | July 24, 2006 at 07:38 AM
I almost hate you, this was so beautiful.
Posted by: anne | July 24, 2006 at 03:54 PM
I know what you mean. Thank goodness for Mamas, right? I'm looking forward to my own mother visitng for 2 weeks in 5 weeks time. But I am also dreading her leaving in 7 weeks time...
Posted by: Melody | July 24, 2006 at 07:29 PM
There is no one like your mom. She's the best. I'm glad she came to see you and the boys.
Posted by: Susan | July 26, 2006 at 02:25 AM
Sniff Sniff... I feel the same way every time my parents go home. I hope they will be here soon and not have to go again.
LBC
Posted by: LadyBug Crossing | July 31, 2006 at 08:30 PM
Oh,my. I miss my mommy. What a beautiful tribute.
Posted by: Kathy | August 03, 2006 at 11:02 AM
That was short and sweet and so so brilliant.
Posted by: Suburban Turmoil | August 05, 2006 at 12:25 PM