When I was visiting Vermont this past winter, I happened upon a photo album filled with pictures from my own first few months. My mother was a super young she-warrior (which I was not, when Lilah finally came along) and incredibly beautiful! She was only able to share her new experience with her own mother, my grandmother, for a short while before she passed away unexpectedly. I cannot imagine contending the journey of "new motherhood" alone as she did. Since Lilah's birth (and even before, during a fertility battle and a complicated pregnancy), my mother has been my unsung hero! Under-appreciated (sadly, as all moms are at some point), disrespected (unfortunately, as no mom ever should be) - and still she is my shining example of what it means to be "Mom." When I call her for forgotten lyrics to silly songs I remember hearing as a child (so I can pass them along to Lilah); her concern and support, extending so far as to bring a lactation consultant into my home so I could conquer the frustrating fight of breastfeeding; mowing my lawn with fortitude when my husband was overseas and I was too "with child" (and under doctors orders) not to do it myself; never questioning any of my parenting decisions, only supporting me with an outstretched hand or an experienced ear - these examples only begin to scratch the surface of the fierce love I have felt from my mom. She has had four children, all delivered C-section, and I cannot fathom being stretched so thin... literally. I proudly bear a similar "battle-scar" of motherhood, just as my mother does. My Little Lilah entered into this world fighting for breath, with the warrior-woman courage of her lineage. The following posts are a pictorial of "like mother, like daughter"... images captured in time (ironically) including a few with the amazing mothers who have come before me...
Happy Mother's Day!
In honor of this holiday,
"A Lilah A Day" will be featuring guest posts this coming week
with personal reflections on motherhood and Mother's Day
from friends, family and fellow bloggers
so stay tuned...
