Thursday 11 September 2008

The One Where I Get Sentimental

Recently I read 'for one more day' by Mitch Albom, it had been stashed under my bed for months and months where I keep my vast collection of unread books. I love Mitch Albom's books (if you haven't read Tuesdays with Morrie or the five people you meet in heaven you really must) but they always give me so much to think about and reflect upon, and to be honest in my life right now which is best described as utter chaos I have little enough time for actually reading. Thinking and reflecting are luxuries I definitely don't have time for.

But I pulled out for one more day and I was hooked within minutes. As I read one line struck me deeply and has been on my mind ever since,

And I realised when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.

Isn't that just perfectly true?

As I have pondered I have thought about how grateful to my own mother I am, and how it wasn't until I had my very own children that I realised finally, fully and completely, how much she actually must love me. Ever since I experienced a feeling of love so deeply overwhelming that there are no words to actually describe it, as I held my very own infant in my arms (even if they were a bit on the hairy side) and felt love grow and mature I have felt both humbled and amazed to realise that my mother had had those exact same feelings of love and dedication for me every single day of my life.

I thought about the pure love I feel for my boys and how everyday I am amazed by this unconditional love I have for them, (and they're both at totally unreasonable ages and push my love to its limits at times) and the amazing beings they are.

As they both grew inside me and I felt the first flutterings of life a relationship began that I never imagined could be so wonderfully powerful.

I know I will never be a perfect mum and I know they will never be perfect children. Neither of those things exist, anywhere. We can but do our best.

But my love for them will always be pure and in my eyes they will always be perfect.

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23 lovely comments:

Miss Lisa said...

I am so with you! I love his books too!

3boys247 said...

Very well put. I guess I have to read his books. I watched the Five People you met in Heaven on the first anniversary of my mother's death. I wanted a tear-jerker and that was it.

Mama Smurf said...

I've read them all and The Five People You Meet in Heaven is one of my all time favorite books. It changed my life and the way I view everything in my life.

jOni lAnE said...

I couldn't agree more!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

What a sweet post. I haven't read this one, either, but it sounds so true. You never know that kind of love until you have kids of your own.

Jen said...

I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven, but I still haven't read the others. What a beautiful post! Although I didn't have that aha moment when my kids were first born, I have certainly gone on to know the love that you write about (even on the days where they are pushing my buttons-actually, especially on those days).

Kristen said...

What a perfect post Carol! I truly agree too, that you have no idea how much your parents love you, until you have your own kids.

Thanks for writing something beautiful and heartwarming today. I have to admit that all of the 9-11 talk is depressing me.

Claire said...

Dammit... today of all days when I'm feeling teary, and i read your blog entry... I'm an emotional wreck now. Thanks...

Beth Cotell said...

What a sweet post!

I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Looks like I might need to pick up a copy of this one too!

EmmaP said...

very nice sentiments. heartfelt. you got me to smile and cry! way to go!

Simply Shannon said...

Well said as always Carol!

Susan said...

Lovely!
I haven't read that book yet, but have read the other Albom books. I guess I will have to go pick that one up and add it to MY pile of books that are collecting under my bed.

Unknown said...

Oh, Carol, I love this post. It gave me goosebumps and my eyes even misted over.

All because everything you wrote is so.so.true.

the rogers blog said...

Got tears in my eyes!!

Melissa said...

I've had those same thoughts regarding my kids and how this must have been how my mom felt/feels about me and my brother.

Sounds like a good book. I'll have to read it if I ever get back to reading books.... ;)

Anonymous said...

Ah! That was a wonderful post and so absolutely true. Thanks for putting into words what we all feel.

Anonymous said...

I need to get hold of one of his books. Thanks for the mommy reminder.

Anonymous said...

you're so right that neither of those things exist. anywhere.

I'm just trying to do my best to allow my boys to look back and have GOOD memories of me, and know that they are loved.

Anonymous said...

That was beautiful.

Whilst I haven't read that book, I do have it downstairs in the bookcase and your post was just the impetus I needed to go downstairs and reclaim some "me" time and indulge in a few unfettered hours of reading.

J. Baxter said...

Lovely thoughts. I had a similar realization when I became a mother.

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Beautiful post...I couldn't agree more.

I have Tuesdays with Morrie on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Thanks for the recommendation. :)

AMY said...

Well said my love. Ditto.

Wendi said...

What a beautiful post Carol!
I love the Mitch Albom books you mentioned.
They are sitting on my bookshelf.
Maybe I should dust them off and read them again.
I have not read "For One More Day"...thanks for the recommendation.
Again, beautiful post...thanks for sharing.