Happy Mother's Day

I've been a mother for thirty seven and 11/12ths years now and that gives me the credentials to comment on Mother's Day and what I have learned about mothering. Here's what I know. There is no one way to be a good mother. Each of us is an individual with our own set of personality traits, talents and flaws. We carry with us the parenting styles of our parents and grandparents and we read and learn as we grow. Society and schools and churches help us with our parenting and we watch how other families interact. But, if we begin with a personality and character well formed enough to think of our children's needs as well as our own, deep in our hearts there is an indistinguishable light that burns, a desire to help our children become loving, caring humans who are able to wend their way through their own stories complete with all the joys and sorrows that life presents. My three sons are wonderful young men now. No brag, just fact. It lets me say to myself - Good job, Eileen. You and Bing did the best you could and it seems to have been enough to send our precious gifts from God out into the world. And the world is a better place because of them. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers. May our loving Blessed Mother Mary watch over you as you heart bursts with love for the little ones entrusted to you.