Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on Steem blockchain! I just wanted to let you know that you're recognized and appreciated.

Mother's Day and Father's Day are the most important holidays to me (birthdays coming after, and other holidays following.) The reason I feel they're most important is because parents — while not always perfect (me either, gosh) — are the reason we all are here reading this today.

As a mother of three, one of whom is now an adult off in society; I take great pride in parenting. Being a functional and active mother is extremely difficult work that I wouldn't trade for anything. It brings meaning to my life like any purpose, and this one being so important to me and for the world.

I want all the other mother's on Steem blockchain to know that you are understood. If carrying a child (or several) as a kind of parasitic entity inside your actual body for 9 months, often SEVERAL times over (depending on how many sets of babies) were not straining enough on your actual physical—mental—emotional being; once they're out in the world, the effort only multiplies exponentially... from breast feeding babies to herding wild teenagers to calling adult offspring to make sure they're still alive. I feel you.

You are understood every time you have a panic attack when you hear that type of scream, every time they're AWOL in the neighborhood somewhere, every time they accidentally bought 47 kindle books, every time the poop didn't look right.

For every tear you've shed in the secret confines of a hot shower, for every phone-call you've embarrassingly made at 2 in the morning, for every day that you continued to be a mother despite the worst FLU of your life— you are appreciated.

You're appreciated for waking up this morning and putting on your mom hat. You're appreciated for taking a shower and getting dressed and forgiven if you didn't bother. You're appreciated for keeping it together, your home together, your children together; and again, forgiven if you could only do so just enough. You are human. And that's okay.

Every mistake you make as a person, as a human, as an individual is understood. That time you lost your cool because you woke up late and it was nobodies fault — it happens. That time you secretly threw out a few dishes so you didn't have to wash them and went an bought a few more from the dollar store exclaiming, "Look at this great deal I found!" Yup, I get it. That time you went without eating because there was not enough, so you gracefully said you were not hungry, and had some water instead. You're thanked. And I get it.

There are so many things that make mom's special and that's not to indirectly praise myself. I praise my own mother like a goddess, even though she was the witch they couldn't burn... Lol. My mother chases rabbits with lettuce, paints her home without inhibition, and is a free spirit of love (and SPICE haha.) I can go on about her forever, and likely any of you if I knew you well. We're all in a unique role together. And I'm patting you on the back (and handing you some digital cake and your own box of cookies for nobody else but you.)

Mothers, when you feel unappreciated or when your partner, grown kids, and everyone else lives their life; we know they don't mean to forget to acknowledge us if they do. From me to you, you are loved by them and appreciated by me and other parents — we just don't always get a breath from our responsibilities to stop and say so.

Lastly, a hug to all single mothers out there reading. It wasn't until I became one myself that I truly grasped how much more effort this role entails. Truly, parenting is meant for two; and even somewhat a community affair. Being a single mother often isolates us from the very communities that can support us in the absence of a partner as well. We can't play "good cop bad cop" when we're the only cop. The dynamic adjustments aside, providing, protecting, leadership, pursuit are elements that are counter-intuitive for many of us ladies. It can be incredible de-feminizing and masculating to be a single mom, whether by choice or by divorce, or by incarceration, or by becoming a widow. Many of us simply set who we are as individuals aside— for good. And while that saddens me, I understand. And your sacrifice is honored and appreciated.

This is also extended to the grandparents, single dads, adoptive mothers, aunties, and everyone who has this "role" in a child's life. And to all the surrogate mothers as well who have brought life into the world. While many of you have your own day to celebrate, many of you are also mothers and are appreciated.

To bring life, to nurture it, to condition life, to validate it, to love, to become love, to care and worry, to think—feel—speak—do— and BE, motherhood. You are priceless.

Happy Mothers Day!

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Feel free to vent or share your parenting stories in the comments. Lol. I know you have some good ones. ;)