The Choice of Motherhood

This weekend is Mothers Day, a day in which we celebrate and thank our moms for giving us life. Yes, I know it wouldn't be possible without our dads, but it is our mom who watches her body change, feel the hormones drive her wacky at times and finally, have to work harder than anyone else by pushing another human being out of her body.

Sometimes, though, it isn't the biological mom that does the important stuff. Sure, our biological mom went through all of the physical angst of pregnancy and childbirth, but for whatever reason, economic, psychological, emotional or some other reason, the biological mom is unprepared to care for the child she conceived.

That's when some other woman enters your life and declares that she is ready, willing and able to care for you, when no one else can. Somehow, there is a greater love for a child of another person, different than one given to her own, because this is a decision made not out of a night of passion with her husband or lover, but one made out of compassion for one who would otherwise be destined to a life in an orphanage or foster care, or worse, no life at all due to an abortion.

It is ironic that one of the biggest news stories this week involves a doctor, Kermit Gosnell, who made a career performing abortions mostly for women who lived in poverty, and didn't understand that they could have made a different choice. In addition, at least four of these aborted pregnancies resulted in live births and those lives were allegedly snuffed out by the doctor and his team via decapitation by snipping the spinal cord from the brain.

I am the oldest of six children. As the oldest, I can bear witness to many things, many choices, my parents made. Some were good and some, well, let's just say, didn't achieve the desired result. But two choices they did make were the most loving, the most generous, and yes, the most selfless they ever made. They adopted two of my brothers, one of whom is my godson.

But understand this. It was my mom who had to make the final decision to be willing to share her love with a child, and then children, who were not born by her. That, too, is a choice issue that is never or at least, rarely, discussed.

So, to all the moms out there, both natural and adoptive, Happy Mothers Day! Remember all the things your mom has done for you, the least of which, is the love and guidance to make you who you are. You would not be the person you are without her.

And to my mother, know always that we will be linked as my birthday made you a mom on Mothers Day weekend those many years ago. Happy Mothers Day, Mom!