On Mother’s Day weekend, I want to send my thanks and grateful feelings to all mothers. I’m also mindful of others who don’t fit into the traditional roles: I’m mindful to those who are mothers and are balancing the desire to be celebrated with the desire/feelings of obligation to celebrate their own mothers. Those who aren’t yet mothers and yearn to be. Those who yearn to be mothers and can’t for physical reasons. Those who choose not to bear children for a variety of reasons (e.g. they’re feeling wounded by the “mothering” they received and don’t want to pass along any of those wounds to their own children.) Those mothers who have adopted children and are foster mothers. Those who are step-mothers and wish their kids treated them differently and with less hostility (e.g. “YOU’RE NOT MY MOTHER!) “Mothers” who mentor many children, without them being their biological ones. Single mothers/widows who are struggling to be both mothers and “fathers” to their kids. Conversely, single fathers/widowers who are trying and struggling to be “mothers” to their children. Mothers whose children have died. Mothers who are feeling rejected by their own children. And children and fathers, without whom mothers wouldn’t be mothers. If I’ve left anyone out, please let me know! Happy Mother’s Day (or at least a good enough Mother’s Day.)