Mom

A few weeks ago, I was upstairs tucking the boys in for the night. N wasn't feeling well so I sat down next to him and rubbed his back until he fell asleep.

I felt fairly certain there was nothing seriously wrong with N. Still, when I got downstairs, I mentioned his complaints to my wife. Together, we quickly assessed that, indeed, he had nothing more than the normal run-of-the-mill sort of ailment that kids get.

Even though I already knew this, I felt better after getting confirmation from my wife. So many decisions and concerns are easier when they're shared with someone you trust and love. Sometimes, we all need a sounding board It's one of the great gifts of marriage, knowing you are never completely alone.

When I think about these things, I can't help but think about my mother. When my dad died, she lost that partner. In the same instant, she was thrown into a situation where she needed advice more than ever. She had six kids, the youngest an infant, the oldest in college. She had spent her adult life being a farmer's wife. But now, with the farmer gone, she was forced to reinvent herself.

I can't imagine how alone and scared and sad she must have been. I was too young and too in shock to consider this at the time. Instead, we kids turned to her to keep our world from spinning completely out of control. And somehow, some way, she managed to do just that. We moved off the farm and she found work. And we began to find our way as a new single-parent family.

Our family did not fall apart. We were held together by the strength and courage of a woman unwilling to let that happen. The longer I am a parent the more amazed I am at what my mother accomplished. She is an extrordinary woman.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you.