Soft Landing

You always here the same cheesy, cliche comment that motherhood is the hardest and most rewarding thing in the world.  But why?  It's quite an elusive thing to explain.  I've thought about it a lot today, what makes it so hard yet so rewarding?I remember when Lucca was a baby, when my hormones were raging and sleep had escaped me, someone told me that when a baby has a meltdown it's a compliment.  It means they trust you.  At the time, I thought she was off her rocker.  Looking back, I think she was right.  The same reason Lucca can completely meltdown with me is the same reason he chooses me for his soft landing.  It's the reason that at 34, when I'm sick, I still want my mom to tickle my back, rent me movies and bring me some rainbow sherbet.  It's the reason that Lucca can scream that he hates me in the middle of Anthropologie, yet when he falls and skins his knees, it's me who can comfort him.  And it's the same reason that despite being a difficult teenager, no one has ever showed me unconditional love like my mom.Mom, I'm grateful to you for my sensitivity, compassion and creativity.  I'm grateful to every person who has ever told us we look alike, as that is the greatest compliment.  It's from you I learned patience, even if mine pales in comparison to yours.  I'm grateful that I get to talk to you everyday about my dreams and ideas, paint colors, my challenges and The Bachelor.  I'm grateful to you for my love for fashion, design, chocolate, crafting and reality tv.  I'm grateful that because of you I'm loyal, optimistic, laugh a lot and love my family more than anything else in this world.Above all Mom, today I'm eternally grateful that you're mysoft landing.Lastly, to my stubborn, wild, sensitive, insanely loving, crafty, silly and snuggly Lucca.  Thank you a million times over for loving me even when I'm cranky.  Thank you for your random hugs and kisses.  Thank you for telling me I'm beautiful.  Thank you for letting me take endless amounts of photos of you.  Thank you for reminding me sometimes to use a nicer voice.  Thank you for asking me at dinner "So Mom, how was your day?".  Thank you for being so in tune when I'm sad.  Thank you for being my partner in crime everyday.  Thank you for being such a great date.  Thank you for trusting me.  More than anything Lucca, thank you for letting me be your soft landing.  Being your mom is the single greatest gift in my life.

Happy Mother's Day!