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Children’s illustrator, Vesper Stamper sent in this whimsical mother and daughter illustration to help us celebrate Mother’s Day. Vesper was featured on Illustrator Saturday http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/illustrator-saturday-vesper-stamper/.

Happy Mother’s Day! Eileen Spinelli has shared a poem to help us celebrate Mother’s Day. It reminds us how a mother feels about their child and that our Mom will always be with you. Today is the day to remember her.

RESPONSE TO A CHILD

Always

I will be your mother.

Long into the spill of time
and when time no longer
has anything to do with
dawn or dark.

I will be your mother…

the local newspapers
and the rattling cat-bird songs.
You can grow up
wild and bright.
You can be wind
or fire,
willow or oak.

You can breathe green.
You can wear poppies
in your hair.
You can stand astonished
in the moonlight
or peek from a safe,
moonless space–

I will be your mother.

I may turn into sky
or red clay
or simply bones.
I may become delicate
as milkweed
or hammered hard
as canyon cleft–

but I will be
your mother.

Yes.

Always.

by Eileen Spinelli

Thank you Eileen for sharing your poem with us. Did you see Eileen’s latest book, ANOTHER DAY WITH EMILY?

Spinelli’s free verse presents a summer of self-acceptance for one girl. Suzy is almost 12 when her 4-year-old brother sees their elderly neighbor collapse. He dials 911 and becomes a “little hero” in their town. Suddenly everything revolves around him, and no one seems to care about Suzy’s needs. Worse, she doesn’t get a part in the community play, but her best friend, Alison, does. Suzy is feeling decidedly unloved and decides that her best bet is to emulate a poet she has recently learned about—Emily Dickinson. Suzy insists on being called Emily and makes a list of Emily-appropriate activities (write poems, dust, read, listen to crickets). But Suzy soon finds that being a recluse is a lonely occupation. Lots of white space on the page, short chapters and appealing illustrations make this an unintimidating read for even the most reluctant readers. And besides, it’s a rollicking good story. Spinelli mixes dollops of wit with her dabs of pathos to keep things lively and realistic in a fresh way that nevertheless feels comfortably old-fashioned. The interspersed bits of history (the origin of baseball, some famous people of the 1800s) and wholesome activities (bicycle riding, helping neighbors, going to the library) make this a story to be enjoyed and appreciated by readers weary of the mall-shopping, cellphone-centric, mean-girl genre. A witty and endearing story with a timeless message. (Verse fiction. 9-12) – Kirkus Reviews

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Listening to my new Nano, a gift from K. :) Love it and love him, he is such a sweetheart! I loaded my music collection on it, and I am listening to some of my most favorite songs- too many to name. Donna Lewis- that girl can sing like no other, can't she? Also The Unfeeling Kiss- by Garbriel Yared, off the City of Angels soundtrack. A few years ago, I have my vehicle broke into and all my favorite CD's were stolen-these two were among them - and I still want them back! Still miss them, but I am building my music collection up again. Music really brings back great memories where you relive moments in time. Amazing isn't it?

Wishing all Mom's a Happy Mother's Day! Today I happily talked to my sons, my Mom, my Mother 2 :), and friends, then a lovely dinner with K. The end to a perfect day...

“My mother is a poem
I'll never be able to write,
though everything I write
is a poem to my mother.”
--Sharon Doubiago



I am fond of this quote, from the perspective of a daughter and writer. For me, my mother’s opinions, values, such as, what she would say, are always on my mind. We cannot help but characterize ourselves by the expression on our mothers face when we meet face to face.


Our Mothers reflect our first mirror image, instructing us on our identity, before we're aware of our own individuality. I've asked people who have lost their mother when they were small, what they remember about her and they describe a feeling. I believe the feeling they remember is their mothers love; the one thing all of us remember the most about our mothers, or what we think of when we hear the word mother.

A mothers love is an emotion impossible to explain; a vast sea of understanding and devotion, unmatched by any affection we will ever know again. I believe that adults sometimes expect this kind of love from their partners and friends and it's a feeling we're unable to duplicate.


This disappointment causes it's fair share of heartache in relationships. Be it between life partners or friends, we want this unconditional love bestowed upon us again. We all need to be mindful on Mothers day, and everyday that the sentiment shared between mother and child, has the propensity to cause our mothers alarm. Every child governs the heart of a parent, regardless of years, because you're always your mothers child regardless of your age. Since children have their mothers heart in the palm of their hands, whatever happens to them happens to Mom.


Therefore we should be tender with our mother's hearts, and pray our children will be gentle with ours.
My mother watched her girlhood diminish when she became a mother before entering a period of knowing herself, her dreams, or her plans. Although motherhood is an art; and all artists know is the passion they feel for their gift, everything else fades away in comparison.

Caring for our needs and the needs of our children is a balancing act requiring grace, patience, character, and love- our most cherished gift from our maker- the gift we pass to life itself, our children, and each other- love, often reflected after birth in the face of a mother.


Today is the day to remember the person who loves or loved you most in the world, and wished for you all you've ever dreamed of having or doing. We have our mothers to thank for so much, especially the sacrifices they've endured.

I appreciate my mother for the courage she had to have had to watch my mistakes, for the fortitude to predict my misgivings, and the compassion to set me straight. I'm glad she pulled my hair out of my eyes and hummed me to sleep at night. In addition, her voice and words will always be recorded in my head, advising, comforting, and reminding me of what is in my best interest.

I am grateful for the books, the dreams of possibilities, the devotions, the time, the explanations, and most of all the love- the word that is impossible to explain. Happy Mothers Day Mom!