Happy Mother's Day!

When I was young, my mother taught me in a thousand different ways that the world is fascinating. She had studied microbiology in college, and I remember looking through her microscope at pond water and leaves and drops of blood and thinking, "....Wow..." 

I remember her teaching us about the seasons and why they change, growing beans in paper cups so that we could study the roots together, and so many other little science experiments and observations. I remember her strongly advocating for our education and making many personal sacrifices for it. 

Of course I didn't appreciate her efforts as much as I should have back then, but now I want to publicly say, "Thank you, Mom! Thank you for the countless hours you spent homeschooling when our local schools were awful. Thank you for always telling me I could achieve whatever I put my mind to. Thank you for being someone who is always learning, always interested in new knowledge. I think you are brilliant and wonderful, and I am so glad to be your daughter!"

Here's to all the mothers out there, who have made us who we are. And if you are a mom, in the trenches and trying to shape your little people into happy, healthy, smart, ethical big people...hats off to you. One day when they are grown, they will look back with hearts filled with gratitude and recognize your hand in the development of their mind and the pattern of their life.

Happy Mother's Day!

-- Maile