It was May 7th when I realized that the following Sunday was Mother’s Day. I opened up our refrigerator and got a quick glance at the calendar. I gasped. “Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh. Shoot!” Ty was in the kitchen with me and asked what was wrong. I told him I didn’t realize that Mother’s Day was next Sunday and already had sent in my Webb column for the week. It was too late to send another one in anyways. “Mom. It will be OK. You’ve been sick and don’t know your days. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Mother’s Day is so special, and I was bummed. I texted Steph. She texted back, saying that it was nurses’ week, and not only was it nurses’ week, but my momma was a nurse! God’s timing is pretty awesome. What are the chances of me writing about nurses and my momma last week? But I still wanted to pay tribute to all mothers. Including my momma. My mother-in-law. My stepmom. My grandmothers.
There are all kinds of mommas out there. Stay-at-home moms. Working moms. Single moms. Mothers-in-law. Step mommas, foster moms, and more. Each one has a special job. Why do people think that there is only one way to parent? Their way. Everyone is so judgmental. There is no perfect mom. We ALL make mistakes. We aren’t given a handbook when that baby comes. We are only given motherly instincts and family and friends who help us along the way. It’s true what they say. It takes a village to raise a child.
It’s OK, working moms; we know you feel pressured between your job and raising your beautiful babies. I hope you know that you are doing an incredible job balancing both! It’s hard to leave your babies when they are small, but you are still doing what is best for the family. Your babies know you will ALWAYS be there and are seeing what a hard worker their momma is from sunup to sundown. They will look back and know you did your very best!
Stay at home, mommas. I see you. Hair in a messy bun, holding your cup of coffee, just wishing you could hold a conversation with someone old enough to talk to during these days. You are getting snacks every few hours, changing diapers, wiping noses, and lucky enough to sit down for fifteen minutes just to enjoy that cup of coffee. You are doing your very best!
Foster momma and adopted momma, you are incredible. Raising other people’s children has to be so hard. These children take a special kind of love, and you are it! You are giving these amazing kids a chance at a family of their own, and for that, I salute you! I think it is absolutely amazing what you are doing. If I had an extra bedroom, and hopefully someday soon when we add on, we will. I would love to think about fostering a child, and I hope I can be as strong as you!
Single mommas. Shout out, girl. You are doing this all on your own, and that is so brave. You are working and raising your babies all on your own, and that isn’t easy. But someday, your child will look back and know that you are so strong! You raised them into this beautiful person all on your own! I know the days and weeks may seem so long, but gorgeous, the years fly by. You are doing amazing and doing the best you can on your own!
Step mommas. This one is tough. I can’t imagine dealing with the exes. I heard some can be pretty nasty. The drama that can come with this label has to be hard. Then taking on the lead as a stepmom is hard too. Some kids want nothing to do with you, even if you did nothing wrong. But some kids need you more than you know if their mom isn’t in the picture. Loving them even though they don’t act like they love you, I am sure, isn’t easy. This is a hard position, but it can be so rewarding, gaining children you didn’t know you would have. I hope you grow a special relationship with them because you do have a beautiful job!
Mothers-in-law, you have a special spot. You instantly gain a son/daughter and welcome them into your family. You love them and take them in as one of your own. Including them in family gatherings that used to be just you and your children. Accepting new members into your family in certain situations, I’m sure, can be tough. You just pray your child picks the right spouse for themselves and that the person fits right into the family like they have always been there. Loving them no matter what circumstance, because that’s a mother’s love!
Grandmothers, you have one of the best jobs. Spoil them and send them home! Haha! I heard being a grandmother is the best job in the whole world! I know my kids get away with stuff from my momma that I would have never gotten away with when I was their age. But that’s the special part of being a Grammy. It is such a special relationship. Candy before dinner. Later bedtimes. Shopping sprees and more. It’s a grandmother’s duty to love, support and spoil those grandbabies! Shout out to all the amazing grandmothers out there.
I have a pretty incredible momma. We talk every day. I’ll never be too old to need my momma. She is so strong and beautiful and gave my brother and me such a wonderful life. She helped build me into who I am today and trust me, that wasn’t easy. She learned patience with me but showed me love and grace. For that, I am thankful. My momma is my best friend, and I love our relationship.
I have a beautiful mother-in-law who has been a part of my life since I was fourteen years old! She has loved me as her own daughter, spoils our family and is eighty going on fifty. Seriously, she is amazing. She has the biggest heart and always has a smile on her face. I am thankful to have the mother-in-law I do. You can’t help but love her. We have been through a lot together!
My stepmother I have truly grown to love over the years. She would do anything for me and our family. Loves us unconditionally and also has such a giving heart. It’s a relationship in life I never thought I would have, but for a step momma, I am glad she is mine.
My grandmothers were a huge part of my life, and my relationship was so different with both of them. They were both at every concert, game or anything important in my life. They were there for the good and bad in everything. I could count on them both, no matter what.
I am so grateful for the strong and beautiful women in my life. Ladies, you are strong! You are beautiful and deserving of everything. Don’t let anyone ever bring you down as a mother/person. You are doing the best you can in any situation.
I hope you had the Mother’s Day you so deserved.
Baked French Toast
Ingredients:
• 10 cups day-old French bread, cubed
• 6 eggs
• 2 ¼ cup milk
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla
Topping:
• 5 Tbsp of softened butter (not melted)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
Directions:
Lightly spray a 9 by 13 pan with cooking spray. Place bread cubes in an even layer inside the dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour slowly over the bread, stirring until the bread is all covered.
In a small bowl, mix softened butter and brown sugar together. Sprinkle all over the casserole. I then sprinkled a little cinnamon on top to garnish.
At this point, you can refrigerate it overnight or let it rest for 20-30 minutes and bake it that day. Bake at 350 with foil for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes.
This is by far one of my NEW favorite French toast recipes! Serve with maple serving and fresh fruit. A side of bacon or sausage never hurts, either! Enjoy!
