Dear IF readers,

Mother’s Day was last Sunday. And on the Friday before Mother’s Day, I was invited to Jax school to celebrate. I was teaching at the middle school that day so I asked Jax teacher if I could come early and leave early. This idea made Jax sad, so I asked John if he could come and cover the last 30 minutes after I left. Everyone was happy.

I went into Jax classroom to find that he had made presents and told the class stories about his mom. He said that I helped him with his homework, and I let him stay up late, and that he loved me very much. Jax made me a flower bonnet and a flower for me to hold all of colorful tissue paper. Those moments took all the tired away. And I watched this young boy showing me his gifts and smiling at me like I was the greatest person other than Batman or Spiderman.

I save everything my children make it is an incurable affliction. And so when I got back home the flower and hat stayed out for days and then went into the keepsake box. Maybe someday Jax will get a laugh out of all the things his mama saved about him. And someday when he is off in his life and I am a once a week phone call or visit, I will have my flower and my hat, and that day in Jax class room.

I am so glad that I was lucky and blessed enough to become a mother. There is so much pride in this work. I imagine these two young men in the world someday, and even now, I see them objectively when they are steps from me with their friends or another adult and I think, “hey that boy is so cool and sweet, i would like to know him even if he was not my son,” and that is the greatest feeling in the world.

Great reading, Cat Wayland

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