I recently requested that my daughter do her library holds all at once – at the beginning of the week – so that we could make our trips to the library on a weekly basis, rather then on a daily basis. I asked this of her because even though I am, for sure, her Uber driver – first and foremost – it would be helpful for me if we could keep my job – as her Uber driver – as efficient as possible. Because, you know, there are many, many other jobs that are also in need of my attention.

There is the Uber driving. And the shopping. The cooking. The cleaning – on occasion. The nursing. The hair brushing. The refereeing. The diagnosing. The laundry-ing. The counseling. The singing. The story telling. The soothing. The listening. The hoop-shooting. The hand-holding. The game and performance attending. The supporting. The reminding. The question-answering. The dancing. The reading. The out-the-door ushering. The adventuring. The learning. The encouraging. The snuggling. The guiding. The requesting. The math assisting. The pancake flipping. The crying. The reassuring. The explaining. The laughing. The breathing.

The loving….

It is all complex. And challenging. And beautiful.

And very, very real.

My own experience as someone’s child didn’t lend me my ideal models. And so, I have struck out on this parenting endeavor to be the kind of mother, to Cash and Olive, that I always wanted for myself.

It has been a little like hiking on a trail you’ve never been on before – you don’t know what is going to be up ahead. Or where you’ll be able to stop for lunch. Or what sort of weather you may have.

And while the trail has definitely been steeper in some places then others.

It is all complex. And challenging. And beautiful.

And very, very real.

It has been the most gorgeous outing of my life.

Because while I may play all the aforementioned roles – my children also play many, many roles.

They make me laugh. And think. And consider things. They awe me with their talent. Their curiosity is contagious. They remind me to tread lightly on this earth. They are my Number One fans. They keep me company. They inspire me. They give me kisses, and big, huge, real hugs. They energize me. They make me want to make the world a just and fair place. They brighten my days. They remind me to be playful. They keep me present. They stoke the desire in me to be good. And true. They fill my heart. And strengthen my determination.

I so appreciate that there is a day to honor Mothers and all that they do. All that they are.

But, for me, it is my children, who have nurtured me. Healed me. Coaxed me to grow.

They are my greatest teachers.

It is such an honor to be their Uber driver.

And to hold each others’ hands through the joy and the pain.