For all the Moms…

There are an infinite number of reasons I appreciate each of you, but I wanted to share a recent event to underscore my heartfelt thank you for all you do.

Earlier this week, my wife Lynette was invited to a special dinner in the Manhattan home of Suzie and Jack Welch. Yes, Jack Welch the man who was the legendary Chairman and CEO of General Electric. Suzie is equally amazing, just google her to find out.

While Lynette was having her momentous time with a handful of extraordinary leaders, did I mention where I was? I was home with our twins… all day with our “perfect” three year old twin girls.

Here’s how it went:

In the afternoon, they took naps and both of them had BIG accidents in their little beds. It’s not normal that both would have a super-soaker at the same time, but to show daddy their bladder power they did. While my wife was having a blast at the Welches, I pulled off their clothes and sheets, washed them, dried them, made their beds, cooked their dinner, fed them, then dealt with a major spill and a huge mess at dinner. Because of the interrupting spills and accidents at the table, dinner was halted and an hour later they were still hungry. So, I made them oatmeal. The oatmeal somehow, supernaturally I think, ended up encrusted into the fabric of our dining room chairs. After that, I then cleaned everything for a second time, which took nearly an hour, then I bathed them, read them stories, and prayed with them (just the thought of them having to get in bed, makes them want to have an hour-long prayer session… “No keep praying daddy, while we fake like we’re spiritual giants”).

After getting in bed, they continued to talk to each other while I politely interrupted them and encouraged them to be quiet and go to sleep (with a sweet dad voice of course.NOT); then after an hour of chatter, I found out they both had poops in their night time diaper. By this time it’s 10:00 PM, their bed time is normally 8:00. I’m sunk!

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, my wife is wrapping up her afterglow time with Suzie Welch and the other happy ladies. Simultaneously, I’m about to throw two dirty diapers through the window. Then finally around 10:20 it’s over… they are curled up asleep and have the faces of angels and I completely forget all of the blowouts of the day. But, not to lose any more time, I’m back at the laundry station, finishing up the house cleaning and some work that was left over from the day, and then I retire at 1:00 am to sleep, so I can get up at 6:00, read my bible, repent of my countless sins and go at it again starting at 8:00.

Every once in a while, I get a first-hand glimpse of what it is to be a devoted mom. While for me it was an unusual day, for most moms, it’s every day. I’m genuinely awed by all moms and want to say to my wife first… YOU are an awesome, loving, patient, kind, beautiful, intelligent and all around extraordinary mom. To my sister, my daughter-in-law, to my friends at church and to all the moms I know, seriously… WELL DONE! Your work, though tough, never ending, never thanked, always a labor of love, is truly extraordinary, needed and observed first hand by our Father in heaven and the rest of us who honor you.

Moms, you are the true heroes and your children will indeed, “rise up and call [you] blessed…” (Proverbs 31:28).

Your work is touching a little one who may one day be a great one… like Suzie or Jack, or Peter, Paul or Mary, or Esther or Mordecai, or Batman or Spiderman (okay, enough!). Thank you so much for being you!

Happy Mothers Day!