When God created Mothers.....
~ by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around with this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have 180 moveable parts.... all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that disappears when she stands up, a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair, and six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowely and said, "Six pairs of hands?.... no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "It's the three pairs of eye that mothers have to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, "What are you kids doing in there?" when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and, of course, the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, "I understand and I Love You" without so much as uttering a word."

"Lord," said the angel, tugging His sleeve gentrly, "Go to bed. Tomorrow....."

"I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick..... can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger.... and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

"But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You. You were trying to put too much into this model."

"It's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."

"What's it for?"

"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."

"You are a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there."

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This Sunday is a special day for me, and not because I am a mother, but because my son turns 20 on Mother's Day. It's his birthday as well.

I did it.... I got him past crawling, toilet training, and High School math. It wasn't always easy, but he didn't come with a training manual at birth. I've finally come to the point where my baby isn't a baby anymore as he leaves his teenage years behind. Oh, who am I kidding... he'll always be my baby even if he's 50 and I am 78. But now I get to see the adult in him come out, and it thrills me that he's at the beginning of a whole new adventure in front of him.

He asked me what I wanted for Mothers Day and I told him all I cared about was his undying love and affection..... oh, and flowers. I won't be the least surprised if he comes home with the prettiest bouquet from the pickings, and the nicest card. Happy Birthday, sweetie.... I love you with all my heart!

And a Happy Mothers Day to all who read here!