To say that motherhood is unworthy is the unworthiest of things to say. To say that motherhood is complicated is to say that “the Sistine Chapel is a nice little drawing.” It isn’t just the start of life, it’s the transferring of life, a transference that continues, in all its complexity, beyond death. So here’s to all mothers, biological or otherwise, and to all who would like to be. The coronavirus pandemic will eventually end. But motherhood? That’s the “we’re all in this together” forever experience.

“Wise children always choose a mother who was a shocking flirt in her maiden days, and so had several offers before she accepted their fortunate papa.” ~J.M. Barrie

“No one is ever quite ready. Parenthood chooses you and you open your eyes and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It’s not a question of choice.” ~Marisa de los Santos

“A woman giving birth has pain because her time has come. But when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.” ~John 16:21

“(Yet) being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” ~Robert A. Heinlein

“24/7: Once you sign on to be a mother, that’s the only shift they offer.” ~Jodi Picoult

“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story. Because hers is where yours begin.” ~Mitch Albom

“Mothers are all slightly insane.” ~J. D. Salinger

“Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, ‘Oh, why can’t you remain like this forever?’ This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.” ~J.M. Barrie

“It was some long-since-forgotten atrocity (homework? weekend chores?) that led to my decision to run away forever. I was surprised at the coolness of Mom’s reaction: ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yes!’ ‘OK.’ That was it. Just ‘OK.’ And then she proceeded to pack my lunch. She was obviously anxious to get rid of me.” ~Running Away

“Tell me what you’ll do if you’re captured by the coyotes… Well, that might work, but does your mother live near here?” ~Charles M. Schulz

“Our heroine knew that the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back by; so they stayed away for years and had a lovely time.” ~J.M. Barrie

“Children are knives, my mother once said. They don’t mean to, but they cut. And yet we cling to them, don’t we, we clasp them until the blood flows.” ~Joanne Harris

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.” ~Dorothy Parker

“Guilt to motherhood is like grapes to wine” ~Fay Weldon

“And what’s her reward for enduring all that pain? She gets pushed aside when she’s disfigured by birth, her children soon leave, her beauty is gone. Women, who struggle and suffer pain to ensure the continuation of the human race, make much tougher and more courageous soldiers than all those big-mouthed freedom-fighting heroes put together.” ~Anne Frank

“In our country we call this type of mother love teng ai. It is composed of two characters. The first means pain; the second means love. That is a mother’s love.” ~Lisa See

“It’s come at last,” she thought, “the time when you can no longer stand between your children and heartache.” ~Betty Smith

“Someday you’re gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You’ll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert

“I can have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”

~3 John 1:4

Happy Mother’s Day!