What a beautiful photo of a mother hugging her son. You can only imagine the thoughts going through her mind as she holds him so close to her heart. You can almost feel the love as she closes her eyes to cherish this moment.
As Mother's Day approaches there will be many of these remembered days of hugs and kisses from our children. We'll go as far back, as the day they were born. The sound of their little voices will ring in our ears and the touch of their small hand in ours will still be felt. Their excitement to tell you about their day and whispers of, "I love you Mommy" will still be the sweetest words you ever hear.
So what makes having a son feel different than having a girl? It's not the love you feel, for it's the same mothers' love. It's not the time you invest, for all children keep us busy. For me, I didn't even think much about letting my boys go or becoming a mother-in-law. For I had been a daughter-in-law which was pretty uneventful...to me anyway.
Looking back I recall my husband talking to his mom almost every day. It didn't dawn on me how she may have felt to hear from her son...but now I know. It's those little things that most women and daughters may take for granted. The regular phone calls and frequently hearing, I love you.
Once my transition from a daughter-in-law to mother-in-law began I started to have many, I didn't know moments. I found myself visioning how my mother-in-law must have hugged her little boys when they were little. I tried to remember them as adult children, did they still greet her with a hug when they saw her? Did they call to share their day? I'm certain she longed to hear their voice saying, "I love you, Mom."
Never did I feel in competition with Nan because my husband showed love and respect for his mom. You may think this isn't an unimportant fact to mention, but it's very important. As some of you enter into the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relationship keep this, "I didn't know moment" in mind. If you are already a mother, daughter-in-law, or mother-in-law and have a son, look at the photo again...could that be you? Would your hug change if he was three or thirty?
I Called Her Nan, makes a special gift for your friends, daughter-in-law, or mother-in-law this Mother's Day. It will hug your heart.
Check it out on Amazon. It's also available as an audiobook and on Kindle.
~Cathy
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