Little did I know…

Last year on Mother’s Day, we were sitting in a restaurant celebrating with my mother-in-law.  Little did I know.

Little did I know that we’d have a baby the next day.  We had no idea how sick she actually was.  Or how lucky we were about to become.

Little did I know how tiny our little girl was going to be.  Three pounds of wonder, cuteness, and awe.

Little did I know how much fun I was going to have being a mom.  I mean,  you know it’s going to be amazing, and new, and incredible, but no matter how large I dreamed, I had underestimated the magnitude of pure awesomeness.

Little did I know how being a mom myself would affect the way I feel towards my mom.  Mom and I have always been very close, and I’ve always been very thankful for her.  The intriguing ways she read our books, the fun activities that we’d get to do, the parks she’d find for us to play in, the way that she’d patiently let us explore, learn, and ask questions, and the way that she fostered my insatiable quest for more.  I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a baby, and my parents were told that I would probably never walk, talk, see, or hear.  I owe all of my being, in so many ways, to my mom.  The incredibly sacrifices, the thousands of therapy sessions, doctors appointments, special schools…  The number of fights she had to put up to get me what she thought I needed. 

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.  I wonder if I had so many problems as a kid so that I could prepare for Piper.  I know that we like to label in our society, but the purpose of labels are to generalize.  And a kid’s potential is only dependent on that kid, not any kind of label that’s been tagged to them.  If my parents had listened to my prognosis, I’m sure that my life today wouldn’t be what it is.  We have no idea what Piper’s future holds, but by golly, she’s going to have every opportunity to achieve everything she is capable of achieving.  Because that’s what my parents did for me.  And I’m thankful that my parents opened my eyes to the limitless possibilities inside every kid, no matter their label. 

I have never taken my mom, grandmas, or great grandmas for granted, I assure you.  But being a mom myself, I think I understand it on a whole new level.  I love you guys, and I’m so blessed to have you all in our lives!  I love watching you with Piper, and I’m so glad that Piper has you in her life, too.  Happy Mother’s Day!