My Open Letter To Mothers on Mother's Day

With very little sleep while working on call, manned with my laptop, camping out on the couch with a bad lower back because the boys commandeered my bed in my small 1 bedroom apartment...
I could have complained.
About my work.
About my twisted back. 
But no, I chose to think different.
I am still grateful for these moments, despite the soreness and the tiredness. 
I am grateful for the sheer simplicity of being able to glance over from my couch and see that my two teenage sons are sleeping well and comfortably
Despite the lack of space on the bed
Despite how their feet tend to now hang off the edge because they are turning into friggin giants
I would not trade the tiredness or the soreness for anything. 
I am here.. with them.
No lavish breakfast in bed. No fancy flowers or dinner. 
Because I don't ask for much from them.
Because THEY are enough. 
THEY are my reason.... and I am so grateful and honoured to be their mother.

As the daylight creeps in, Isaiah, my 14 year old, gets up to grab a glass of water from the kitchen, sees me working away, he decides to act aloof and be his teenage self, but out of the blue he simply hands me three chocolate chip cookies (one of my favourite things in the world) from the cupboard and says, "Happy Mother's Day". :D

To new mothers and mothers-to-be
To co-mothers
To mothers who care for kids with illness
To mothers battling illness
To grieving mothers
To those who no longer have their mothers with them
To mothers who for whatever reason are unable to be with their kids
To the mothers of the 200+ missing school girls in Nigeria, whether they celebrate this day together with us or not and all mothers of missing children

These women... 
Are acquaintances, co-workers, friends, best friends, my sisters, my cousins, my aunts, 
Some are strangers
Whom I don't love or pray for any less

To most importantly, my mom....

You were both my mom and my father for most of life
With endless sacrifice, love and support
You gave and continue to give your all.... to me, my sister and my brother
As well as to my own sons
And as I am starting to see parts of your life echo and intertwine into my own life,
I only hope and pray that I equally become the woman and mother that you are to me to be able to endure my challenges ahead....

Endless love, light, prayers and blessings to ALL MOTHERS today.
I share this day with you.