The One They Call Mom

Have babies they said,

then watched you struggle to stay awake in the night,

when the hourly feedings were at their height.

Have toddlers they said,

then giggled as your anxiety exploded at every wobbled step 

and every attempt to cram 5 crackers in their mouth next. 

Have kids they said,

then forgot to call when early release days made you manic, 

in traffic jammed streets racing to the pickup line quick. 

Have teenagers they said,

then gasped at the sight of your teen swearing in the car,

as a rap song played and you succumb to singing along to your favorite bar.

Have children they said,

then disappeared from the village you were once promised 

and labeled you  a “good mom” albeit it a little damaged.

Being a mother isn’t easy in any sense of the word, 

but hard things are made less hard when we create a herd.

Support the mothers who’ve always supported you 

because without mothers what on Earth would we do?