A Toast to Moms Everywhere

Moms in general are pretty good people. Although, I think the role of motherhood has changed dramatically since I was a wee lad and I am not sure it was for the better. I don't recall seeing as many daycare facilities when I was growing up as I see now and I never went to one because my Mom was always at home with us. As I sit writing this, I cannot recall ever seeing any daycare facilities. My Dad worked and my Mom ran the house and took care of us kids. She made us toe the line and whipped us brutally when we crossed it. No, I was just kidding.

Actually, she did take a switch to me on a few occasions. It was just me though, not the other kids. Steve was the perfect child and never got in trouble, Judy was the only girl, so she got preferential treatment and Paul was the baby, so nothing was his fault. It was always Keith who got in trouble and suffered the consequences for the rest. Actually the others got in trouble too, but because Steve was so perfect and because Judy got preferential treatment and because Paul was the baby, Mom just always took it out on me and beat me unmercifully. No, I was just kidding.

She cooked the meals, cleaned the house, took care of us when we were ill and would even shoot an occasional opossum when they wandered into the backyard. Lewis was an extremely violent place when I was in my formative years. Must have been why I turned out to be such a raucous teenager and later a mentally deranged psychopathic adult. Or maybe it was all the beatings I suffered at the hands of my Mom. Not really, I was just kidding.

Mom was always there for all of the Little League, Babe Ruth, and High School games cheering us on night after night. I don't recall my Mom ever taking a nap during the day; she was always washing clothes, doing the dishes and keeping us in line all day long. There was always a lot of planning and coordination for her to do for our school activities, scouts, and whatever else we were involved with at the time and it amazes me when I look back on it now, just how much she did. You can't blame her with all she had on her shoulders for occasionally losing her temper and spanking the living daylights out of me. No, just kidding again.

I really don't think that you can ever tell your Mom in the right words just exactly how much you appreciate what she has done for you. At least I cannot properly express the depths of my gratitude and love for what my Mom endured to raise four of us kids. I am not kidding here; she faced some herculean tasks in getting four kids raised in a really fantastic family environment and made it look simple. No daycare, no grandparents close by to help and a husband who worked 7 days a week. If she wasn't the best, I would sure like to meet someone who was better.

Mom, you're the greatest and I thank you for everything. Next time I'm down in sunny Florida, I'll give you a hug and take you out to Buddy's Pizza.

While I am waxing so poetically here, please allow me to acknowledge my two ex-wives for their untiring efforts in raising our 4 kids while being excellent Mothers and also two wonderful ex-Mothers-in Law, both of whom treated me way too well.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mothers out there. I hope you all have a great day; you at least deserve that and probably so much more.