There is a secret society.
A group of individuals bonded in flecks of rice cereal paste, gobs of antibacterial ointment, hundreds of number-two pencils and hard-fought honorary doctorate degrees in psychoanalysis / counseling.
We function on very little sleep, gallons of caffeine and so much pure love that, well, if it was the equivalent of cutting-edge computer technology, neither the late great Steve Jobs nor Bill Gates himself could even come close to its depth and breadth.
Yeah, it's Mother's Day.
And as the lot of us enjoys indulging in breakfasts in our beds, beautifully aromatic floral arrangements and instantly-beloved new lockets, we are acutely aware of our good fortune in having been blessed with the miracle of our children.
Especially when our infants wail for 190 minutes straight beginning at 2:14 a.m. ... or our pre-teens pretend they've never before laid eyes on us as we wave goodbye to them at the school drop-off zone ... or our teenagers accuse us of crimes against humanity for placing prom night curfews and regulations on them.
Seriously.
Because it's a proven fact that moms run the gamut from nurturer / protector to blistering annoyer to raging humiliator and, ultimately, treasured mentor, decision barometer / guru and revered genius. At least I hope that last part is true. I'm clearly entrenched in the blistering annoyer phase at this point - just ask my nearly-teen son.
But it's all good. Because, at the end of the day, ain't nobody loves you like your mama. And deep in our heart of hearts, we all know that Mom is that special someone whom we love; count on unconditionally; and from whom we seek approval, guidance, consent and respect.
The thing about motherhood is - everything. I never in my life knew that I could love another human being so selflessly, completely and tremendously before I had Kyle. I never appreciated all the worrying, agonizing, praying, cheerleading and genuine yearning for health, well-being and happiness for someone else's mind, body and soul that only a mother undergoes prior to December of 1999.
And so, even when I'm enduring the long, drawn out MMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWMMMMM moments of frustrated opposition or the tense times of standing firm beside my husband as disciplinarian; there is absolutely no downside to being a mother. It is truly life's greatest gift and one which I thank God for every single day. Even the days on which I am treated like the village idiot or Attila the Hun.
Because when I see my son show kindness, empathy and fortitude - things I know I had a pretty big hand in imparting on him - I am truly honored to be his mother. I am so proud of the person he is and the man he'll become.
What do others deem the best part about being a mom?
Said my friend and Howland native Joanna Dascenzo, with a laugh, "Of course I love the rolling of the eyes - what mother doesn't love that?" She added, "But, I'd say it's the hugs and the 'I love you's' especially as they get older and you get less of them" about her teen daughter and tween son.
Another friend, Lynne Fiest of Southington who'd has two grown daughters, told me: "I enjoy all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly! I guess my favorite thing would be the end result. Dave and I have raised two beautiful daughters the best we could and they have brought us both so much happiness, pride and joy."
I thought I'd give the last word to the world's greatest mother, my own.
"Oh, there's so much that could be considered 'favorite' - the homemade cards and gifts, the nicknames, the hugs," she said. "But when a mother hears someone compliment her child's character, well, it brings a smile to her heart."
As always, Ma, very eloquently stated.
"Ooh, and the dandelion bouquets; don't forget them," she noted with a smile.
I won't Mom, not ever. Happy Mother's Day, ladies. Our secret society is the best.
Kimerer is a Tribune Chronicle columnist. Contact her at with mushy stuff about your Mom; or better yet, tell her yourself.