The Mighty Mom!!

Mothers' Day tomorrow, and I already got two gifts: a cute bookmark from Jenny to keep my place when I read on the plane on Monday, and a book from Amy. Not just any book, but a book of Peanuts cartoons, in German! Love it.

I have never had much confidence as a mom but today I realized I have actually learned a few skills these last 23 years. Nay rather, I have actually acquired a few Magic Mom Powers.

1. I can turn just about anything from the fridge into something people will eat. This evening I mixed leftover pinto beans, some cooked chicken, grated cheese, leftover rice, dibs and dabs of old sour cream and salsa, and even a splash of chicken gravy in a bowl. I slapped the mix onto tortillas, rolled them up, and fried them in oil, which turned them into crispy, delicious burritos that the boys ate four or five of.

2. I can look at a girl's picture and tell what she's like--personality, character, quirks. I first discovered this when Matt came home from Bible school and I was looking at his pictures. "Is this girl really dreamy and into poetry?" Or "she seems like she's kind of full of herself," and Matt was astonished. I described every single one to a T, Matt claimed. He was so impressed that recently he emailed me a picture of a girl and asked me to discern her personality and character. I was delighted to. She was a conscientious sweetie who had no idea of the power of her own charms, I said.

3. Everyone wants me when they're sick. What's with this? I can't fix anything; I don't do that much, really. I can fade into the furniture at other times, but when they're sick, I turn into some sort of magic fairy that they desperately summon.

4. I can find almost anything. Including that thermometer that disappeared today. There it was, on the windowsill. [Yes, Jenny's sick and I'm afraid it's strep like Ben had.]

5. I can quote a Scripture for every occasion, or so the children say. My repertoire isn't nearly as large as I wish it were, but I can pull out "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast" when someone forgets to feed the chickens, or "the people that sat in darkness have seen a great light" when someone's reading in semi-darkness and I turn on the light. "I want to be like you and know all these verses," Jenny said today. Ahhh, success.

6. I am the one people call when things go wrong, and they cling to a primal belief that I can make it all better. Missed flights, failed tests, hurt feelings, sore throats--it's my phone that rings.

In honor of Mothers Day I'll forget all the parts of parenting that have me completely stumped, frustrated, and on my knees begging for wisdom. Just for a day or two I'll strap on my Mighty Magic Mom wings and fly.