Love in Any Language

Our beautiful daughter was born to us on September 21, 1988. Twenty-six years ago we had no idea what joy and pride she would continue to bring into our lives. All we knew was that as we held her in our arms, she was the most beautiful thing we had ever laid eyes on.

Since that day, much has changed in our lives. Lauren was joined by a sister Heather, and a brother, Nathan and years after that their

father and I divorced. Many more joys and sorrows came and went, along with new people, and new loves, but one thing remained consistent; the love and commitment we had for our kids. 

So today, I have created a video tribute to Lauren--my beautiful daughter who loves music, art, culture, history, languages, travel, and most of all people. In all her studies and travels abroad her goal has always been to connect with people in order to better understand them and seek ways to build bridges to peace and to a better world for us all. 

His Room

I cleaned your room today.
Evidence of tortured teenage paradox
strewn across the floor.
Baseball cards, skateboard magazines,
and candy bar wrappers among
empty beer bottles and photos of a girl give
evidence of the man struggling to emerge.
Tucked in rumpled linens, an empty cigarette pack
concealing what you didn't want me to know.
I knew this day would come.
Mothers aren't ignorant of such things.
How do you think you got here in the first place?

Mag 212

© K. Lynette Erwin, 2014

Today she's 21

Where did all the time go?  Yesterday she was my little girl, giggling and laughing with her friends, coming up to our room and laying on the bed while I held her in my arms and stroked her hair.  Then she left for France and stayed a long time.  When she came back she had changed--transformed from a giggling teenager into a young woman.  Now, with a year of college behind her she has long left the little girl behind and I see standing before me the woman that I envisioned she would become. 

How I love you, Lauren.  Happy Birthday.

They made me a mom

Lauren, September 21, 1988

Heather, July 25, 1990

Nathan, February 18, 1992

No mother could be more proud!

My handsome son

This blog is not and never will be a "Mommy Blog", but I just got this yesterday, and couldn't resist sharing it. This is my son Nathan, who is seventeen and a junior in high school. He lives with his dad in another city and I don't get to see him nearly often enough. He plays baseball and football, and is the apple of his mother's eye. This is a picture from his junior prom, last weekend.

For Lovely Heather

We're daughter and mother
Not so long ago.
We give and take
And take and give
Along time's endless row.
Love is passed
And love received
To be passed on again:
A precious heirloom
Twice, twice blessed,
A spiritual cardigan.

I'll put it on
And treasure it,
The me I have received,
And when the roles
Reverse again,
I'll have what I most need.

So may our love
Go on and on,
A hundred thousand years;
Mothers and daughters,
Daughters and mothers,
Through joys and other tears.

~Anonymous