Two Mothers

Forty years ago, a young woman gave birth to a strong, healthy baby boy. She held him close and kissed him and laughed and cried. She took him home to meet his big sister and proud father and later gave him a wild little brother to play with and two little sisters to tease.

She taught him to work hard and play fair. She gave him an appreciation for all things delicious and home-baked. She helped him with his homework and took him to the doctor and made him a cake in the shape of Idaho for a school project. She cheered at his games and folded his pajamas and sent homemade fudge when he lived in Peru.

Now her baby has grown taller than she and even has more grey in his hair. He is a good man, a great father and still likes all things delicious. Especially when they are baked just for him. By her. He is a son that would make any mother proud.

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Nine years ago, another young woman gave birth to a strong, healthy baby boy. She held him close and kissed him and cried and cried. She would not be taking him home, but would place him in the arms of a strange woman to raise.

And because she did...

She gave him two parents who love each other and love her baby beyond words. She gave him a wild little sister to play with and two little brothers to tease. She gave him a home with a big backyard and a swingset and sixteen first cousins and four loving grandparents and maybe a dog. Someday.

She ensured that he would have someone to help him with his homework and take him to the doctor and fold his pajamas and cheer at his games. She trusted that someone else would teach him to work hard and play fair and make him something home-baked and delicious.

Her baby is growing taller. He is a good boy, a great son and would make her very proud.

Happy wishes to my two birthday boys. God bless the mothers who delivered them to me.