A Red Rose for Mother’s Day

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art, artist, artwork, fine art, Mother's Day, mothers, p allingham carlson, Patricia Allingham Carlson, watercolor painting

Long time ago I was a new mother to a wonderful baby girl. It had taken me some time, but I was finally getting the hang of it, starting to feel like I was getting pretty good at the mother thing. Mother’s Day came along for the first time for me as a mother- and no one acknowledged my great feat.

Hubby was working hard just to keep us in our home; he did not even think of helping baby to give me a token gift. His thinking- you’re not my mother. Other family members were far too busy with their own young children. My own mother was busy taking in her own motherly accolades. So I went off to the grocery store to make my weekly food purchases feeling very sad and sorry for myself. At the exit with my full shopping cart stood the store manager. He had a big bouquet of red roses in his arms, and was stopping each woman as she left the store.

Are you a mother?,he asked. My nod gained me a beautiful red rose and a Happy Mother’s Day. Tears poured down my face. And I smiled the whole way to my car.

Mothers greatest reward is the intense love they are granted for their child. This love is of a unique nature- it is passionate and fierce. It aches and fills your heart to bursting. It gives and forgives, and hopes forever.

Mothers work very hard to care for their children. To provide for them and give them opportunities for success. To introduce them to the world of wonder, even as they try to shield them from it, protect them from all harm. They sacrifice their time, their sleep, their down time, their careers, their all for their children. And this goes on for years and years.

Do we mess up? You bet we do. Mothers are human beings, capable of making every mistake there is to make. My mom made mistakes, I did too. But you can count on one thing for sure- the lady is trying her best to be the best mother she can be. So if the love is there, the child will just have to work it out as we all must as adults. So it goes.

This year I bought three bouquets of roses at the local store, and gave them out to all the mothers who came my way. Happy Mother’s day I told each lady, and they all said it back to me.

And if you are a mother too- I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day

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art, art about pregnancy, artist, artwork, being a mother, emotions and art, Mother's Day, painting, watercolor, watercolor painting

Happy Mother’s Day! Some truthful quotes- to me as a mother-

“When your mother asks, “Do you want a piece of advice?” it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.”― Erma Bombeck

“Think for a minute, darling: in fairy tales it’s always the children who have the fine adventures. The mothers have to stay at home and wait for the children to fly in the window.”
― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”
― David C. Gross, Dictionary of 1000 Jewish Proverbs

“There’s no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids.”
― Stephen King
Mother and Child

Becoming a mother changes exactly everything. Being a mother means you become the world for a little one, even as you lose your own world. It is a universe sized love that fills one up mentally, physically and emotionally. It really is.

It is also exhausting, bewildering and frightening. Being solely in charge of the life of another, one loved so dearly, might feel overwhelming- and it doesn’t let up for long.

Glow

My own kids would say I was an overprotective mother. Yup, I was. That felt right. After my initial panics and bewilderment I decided to follow my instincts. Portrait of a Young Woman

Then my child would throw me a new trick, and my confidence would again be challenged. I consulted books, other mothers, and would try out what sounded right. Sometimes it worked, often it did not. As a new equilibrium became established, life itself would throw something else at me- a new baby, a car breakdown, a lost job of a spouse- on it went.

Adjustments made, love shared, fun and play, the wonder of watching your child grow- life goes by and is totally enriched by motherhood.

Did I make mistakes as a mother?  You bet.Did sorrow and tears come along with the Joy- indeed they did. I guess they were the bitter to the sweet needed to make the experience of motherhood more delicious.

Would I do it all over again? In a minute.

  Dear One

Some years ago I was interviewed about my art and life by author Caroline Freedom- http://carolinefreedom.blogspot.com/2010/06/from-time-she-was-preschooler-pat.html.

One question asked and answered reads:CFR: What’s the best (bravest, kindest, most honorable) thing you’ve ever done, the act you’re most proud of?
I am sure that every person acts with small kindnesses many times in their lives. I try to help people, care for the environment and living creatures, listen to the troubles of people with sympathy and volunteer my time occasionally. I guess I am proudest of the time and care I gave to raising my children, and I am rewarded by having them now be such fine adults.

This remains true for me today. The immense effort, work and love put toward raising children pays off totally in the satisfaction of adding fine people to the world. My adult children are my friends now as well as my offspring. I admire and respect both of them, and am proud to be their mom.

One of my kids is now an aspiring musical composer, you have seen me refer to his music at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adam-Allingham/174774089223111?fref=ts on facebook.

My daughter is an aspiring author/novelist- and has just started a blog about the process of writing and her endeavors toward being published. Check out her blog at https://lcwallingham.wordpress.com/

Happy Mother’s Day- to all of you moms, who work so hard and love so much. Here’s a painting to celebrate you-

Joy Dance

Have a lovely day, all!