We had a quiet day yesterday, Mother's Day - church, handmade gifts brought home from school on Friday (hidden away until Sunday), a few phone calls, a visit to a good friend's house. These are the things that made up our day.
But what really had me thinking was these little mallard ducklings. Yes, we found two more in our backyard last week after a Spring storm. Again, no mama. Wildlife Rescue has been called again, but still has yet to get back to me.
They are scared of us, but seem to have taken a liking to Scout. Whenever she walks by their box and they hear the tag on her collar jingle, they start peeping like crazy and head for that side of the box after her. She sticks her head in and gently sniffs. I don't think the ducklings would be so eager if they fully understood what she is bred to do. And I don't think she exactly understands them either. But there does seem to be an common bond between them. Something neither of them quiet gets, but an attraction none the less. If I let her, I think she'd pick them up in her mouth and carry them around. Of course we are not trying this theory out.
I would like to think that this mama duck would be grateful that someone has taken her little ones in after the storm. That there is someone filling in for her in her absence. Even if we are not quite the mothers she had in mind.
But watching them and her has me thinking about mothering. About how there are so many different kinds of mothers - biological mothers, adoptive mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, neighbors, friends, teachers, coaches, etc. And how to become the people we are meant to be, the mothers we are meant to be, it takes more than one person can manage alone.
I am so grateful to have had those kinds of "mothers" in my life.
So, thank you Mrs. Franklin, my Campfire leader growing up in Oklahoma.
Thank you Julie Conatser, my first boss right out of college.
Thank you Anna, who watched my boys on Sunday evenings when they were babies and would stay late to chat.
Thank you Coach Hecksher for being so tough and expecting so much.
Thank you Mrs. O'Donnell for encouraging me to write in 3rd grade.
Thank you Joyce.
Thank you Ambre, Maggie, Stacy, Alicia, Jamie, Tera and Kari, for being my sisters and surrogate mamas to my boys.
Thank you Grammer.
Thank you Grandmother.
And of course, thank you Mom. I know none of us can be a perfect mother, but you were pretty darned close.
I said a little prayer yesterday that God would send lots of "mothers" into the lives of my boys over the next many years. Mothers that will understand them when I do not, teachers that will inspire, and neighbors that will catch them misbehaving, mamas who will come alongside my boys during their own storms. Because we all know, one mother can't do it all. Even if you are a mama duck.