Elanso

I remember my first Mother’s Day very clearly. We had traveled back to Chicago from our home in Michigan because it was so shortly after our first visit to Russia. We were so excited to share video of AJ with our family and show them all of the pictures (an entire photo album) that we took of our trip to both St. Petersburg and Arkhangelsk.

We all met at my parent’s home for brunch and my parents recognized that this was, my first Mother’s Day, as I was finally becoming a Mother. They gave me a wooden mother and baby sculpture that my brother had sent from Thailand (I have a matching one of a husband and wife). Eric presented me with a gorgeous necklace and earring set that he had chosen on a recent trip to Paris. However, Eric’s mother did not even say Happy Mother’s Day to me and it hurt me deeply.

In my mind I was already a mother even though my child was not in my arms and we had not been to court. Although it was not official yet, I had met my child, I had held my child, played with him, giggled with him, even already been hit by him. Although I was not pregnant or had not given birth I was a mom and this was my first Mother’s Day.

So, gentlemen and ladies, I challenge you. Make sure all of your wives or significant others are recognized as mothers. Every woman who has given birth or is waiting for a child, either inside their womb, inside someone else’s womb, in a foster home, or in an orphanage is a mother.

Photo by Eric Pickelsimer

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