{"id":12151,"date":"2006-05-01T17:21:20","date_gmt":"2006-05-01T21:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12151"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:10:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:10:25","slug":"for-all-the-mothers-including-ben-cartwright-by-debbieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12151","title":{"rendered":"For All the Mothers, including Ben Cartwright (by DebbieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0Ten year old Joe learns that sometimes mothers are more than just being a woman.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong>\u00a0 G\u00a0 (4,400 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For All the Mothers, including Ben Cartwright<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam watched from where he waited beneath the large shade tree in front of the school as his youngest brother emerged from the building. Adam was sure that something was amiss. Little Joe walked more slowly, the boy\u2019s head was bent lower and he ignored the boy walking next to him who finally gave up trying to get Joe\u2019s attention. He wondered if the boy might be in trouble again with the teacher and only briefly wondered what the lad had done this time. It was no secret that Joe Cartwright, better known to family and friends as Little Joe, the trouble magnet, for trouble always seemed to be lurking nearby as far as the youngest Cartwright was concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Buddy,\u201d Adam greeted the ten year old.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam,\u201d mutter Joe, barely looking up at his older brother. Instead Little Joe gathered his pony\u2019s reins and swung up into the saddle, waiting for Adam to mount up so that they could ride home.<\/p>\n

Adam and Joe rode in silence for sometime before Adam turned and pulled his stead to a standstill.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026wait up a minute,\u201d he called out as Joe had continued on his way.<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, the boy stopped and turned back, facing his brother. Adam gently moved his horse along side his brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe glanced away briefly and then turned back to look up at his brother. \u201cNuthin\u2019,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know better\u2019n that, buddy\u2026there\u2019s something troubling you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo there ain\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have a bad day at school\u2026do you have a note for Pa from Miss Jones?\u201d Adam certainly hoped not, it hadn\u2019t been a full week yet since the last note came home with the boy and Joe was forced to endure one their father\u2019s \u2018necessary little talks\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026well\u2026I mean\u2026yes\u2026but not the kind you think it is\u2026\u201d stammered Joe, looking with sad, dull eyes at Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand, pal, if you\u2019re not in trouble, why the note?\u201d Adam pressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the only one what got a note\u2026all the kids did\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, can I see it?\u201d Adam said, not realizing he had let out a long sigh of relief. It just got next to his heart when his kid brother was in trouble and their father forced to take drastic action to curb the intolerance on Little Joe\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t for you\u2026it\u2019s for\u2026for\u2026our\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s chin began to quiver and he looked away, lest his brother see the tears that had suddenly blurred his vision.<\/p>\n

Adam tried not to look, but the tears his brother tried so hard to hide, slipped over the rims and rolled mutely down the cherubic, finely chiseled face of the youngest Cartwright.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Pa, Little Joe?\u201d Adam asked softly.<\/p>\n

Little Joe shook his head but refused to look up.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Adam said a bit more sternly. \u201cLook at me.\u201d Again, Little Joe shook his head. \u201cJoe, I want you to look at me, please,\u201d Adam forcefully requested.<\/p>\n

Little Joe turned slowly to look into the compassionate eyes of his older brother. Adam saw the quivering chin and the flood of tears. His heart softened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has made you so sad\u2026and if the note isn\u2019t for our Pa\u2026then for whom was it meant?\u201d he asked tenderly.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s lips were pressed tightly together as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the neatly folded note. For a long second, he stared at it and then held the paper out to his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for our\u2026mother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, his fingers already wrapped around the paper, stopped suddenly and stared into the unhappy face. He wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d heard the boy correctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur\u2026mother?\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n

Little Joe nodded his head. Without another word, Adam opened the note and read the neatly written words:<\/p>\n

For All Mothers:
\nYou are cordially invited to attend a formal Mother\u2019s Day dinner with your student\/students, compliments of the Virginia City School Board, this Saturday night at 7:00 P.M., in the dining room of the Palace Hotel. Please wear your Sunday go to metting clothing.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,
\nMiss Abigail Jones<\/p>\n

Quietly, Adam folded the note, holding it a moment longer in his hand before handing it back to Little Joe. Little Joe made a sniffling sound through his nose as he tucked the note safely into his jacket pocket. Pitifully, he looked at his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re gonna tell, Pa?\u201d he said meekly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should I\u2026it\u2019s up to you to give the note to him,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it ain\u2019t for him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Adam said, interrupting, \u201cPa\u2019s been father and mother to us most all our lives, he\u2019s got a right to see the note\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the dinner\u2019s for mothers, not fathers\u2026\u201d Joe stammered, trying to explain himself. \u201cAnd since I ain\u2019t got no mother, I don\u2019t see any reason to give this darn note to Pa\u2026\u2019sides, it\u2019d only remind him that he ain\u2019t no wife\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam thought a moment on his brother\u2019s words but then shook his head. \u201cI suppose that does, in a way, make sense, but Joe\u2026don\u2019t you reckon Pa would want to know about the dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head no. \u201cAin\u2019t no reason too, he can\u2019t go\u2026Adam, the invitation is for mothers, not fathers\u2026Pa can\u2019t go\u2026he\u2019d be laughed at\u2026I\u2019d be laughed at. Nope\u2026I ain\u2019t even gonna tell him about the note\u2026\u201d Joe looked hard at his brother. \u201cAnd you\u2019d better not either!\u201d
\nBen closed the door softly and turned back into the room. He had been watching Little Joe as the boy made his way slowly from the house to the barn, walking as if he carried the weight of the world on his young, slender shoulders. Slowly the concerned father made his way to the center of great room where Adam sat reading. Hoss was at the dining room table studying the newest catalog.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When Adam looked up from his book, he instantly noted the worried expression on his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d he answered, setting aside his book.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething\u2019s bothering your brother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced over at Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot Hoss, Joseph\u2026he\u2019s been moping around here for the last several days. Do either of you have any ideay what\u2019s going on with that boy? I\u2019ve asked him but he insists that there\u2019s nothing wrong\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t got no ideay, Pa\u2026he ain\u2019t said nuthin\u2019 to me,\u201d Hoss said, returning to his catalog.<\/p>\n

Ben moved to his chair and sat down, glancing at Adam and noting the deep sigh his son made and watched as his eldest closed the book in his hands and set it on the table next to the chair he occupied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026do you know something?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath, expelling the air from his lungs. \u201cI think so\u2026though I kind of promised I wouldn\u2019t say anything,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, if it pertains to your younger brother\u2026I might should know; is he in some sort of trouble again at school?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d responded Adam, shaking his head. \u201cNothing that simple,\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d already figured that the main thing that troubled his younger brother was the fact that he had no mother to accompany him to the upcoming Mother\u2019s Day dinner given in honor of all Virginia City mother\u2019s and their school age children.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that suppose to mean?\u201d snapped Ben, rising and standing before Adam.<\/p>\n

Adam made a muted snickering sound and stood up. \u201cSorry, you weren\u2019t meant to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I did hear it, so, just what does that mean? What is going on with Little Joe that you are not telling me?\u201d Ben demanded. He felt his heart rate increase as a since of dread washed over him. He knew almost immediately that his youngest son had something on his mind, Joe had been too quiet, too pre-occupied the last couple of days.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe asked me not to mention it to you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d growled the young man\u2019s father.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a Mother\u2019s Day dinner for mothers and the students at school. Miss Jones sent home an invitation with all her students on Monday inviting them and their mothers\u2026Joe didn\u2019t give you the note because\u2026because\u2026well, for obvious reasons,\u201d Adam explained with a twinge of sadness in his voice.<\/p>\n

Ben had been expecting something different than what Adam had just told him, though he wasn\u2019t exactly sure what that \u2018something\u2019 was. He took a deep breath and sat back down on the edge of his chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor little thing,\u201d muttered Hoss who had discarded his mail order catalog to join his family in the great room. \u201cI bet he\u2019s about the only kid in school what ain\u2019t got no mama\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably,\u201d Ben said in a wee voice. He glanced from Hoss to Adam. When\u2019s this Mother\u2019s Day dinner suppose to be\u2026and where?\u201d he asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight at 7:00 in the dining room of the Palace Hotel. I reckon it\u2019s a fancy dinner\u2026you know, Sunday-go-to-meeting type of dress,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n

For several moments the room was quiet, Adam, Hoss nor Ben uttered a word. It was obvious to both younger men that their father was deep in thought. Adam wondered what Ben might be considering. Little did he know right then that he was certainly in for a surprise\u2026and so was his younger brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ben sighed as he pushed himself up from his chair. He smiled at both Adam and Hoss. \u201cI suppose I\u2019d better see if I can get Hop Sing to press my suit and find Joseph something decent to wear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben headed for the stairs leaving Hoss and Adam staring at one another with puzzled expressions on their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026what\u2019cha aimin\u2019 on doin\u2019?\u201d Hoss called.<\/p>\n

Ben paused at the bottom of the stairs and turned around. His eyes were bright and seemed to glow with a certain kind of happy twinkle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think? I\u2019m taking my youngest son to the Mother\u2019s Day dinner\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben marched up the stairs, leaving his older two boys in somewhat of a stunned trance. At the top, Ben turned again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, will you fetch Joseph, tell him I\u2019d like a word with him, please\u2026oh, don\u2019t mention the dinner\u2026not one word!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure Pa\u2026not one word,\u201d Hoss stammered as he glanced first at Adam and then headed out the door in search of his younger brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, please don\u2019t shout\u2026and for heaven\u2019s sake, stop that pacing!\u201d ordered Ben who was perched on the edge of the bed in his youngest son\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2026but Pa\u2026please\u2026we can\u2019t go\u2026we just can\u2019t!\u201d Little Joe begged.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why not?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/p>\n

Joe groaned. \u201cBECAUSE YOU\u2019RE NOT MY MOTHER!\u201d ranted the boy at the top of his lungs. \u201cAnd because the fellas will\u2026will\u2026laugh at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe was close to tears and it was all he could to keep from crying. His father must be out of his mind insisting that they go to the Mother\u2019s Day dinner together. Joe spun around, facing the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, come here, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe refused to move. His body was rigid and taunt; his arms were folded tightly across his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, please\u2026do as I ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lad swallowed down his dread and turning slowly, made his way across the room to stand before his father. Ben patted the edge of the bed next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down, Joseph\u2026I want to tell you something.\u201d He waited until Joe was seated and then, clearing his throat, he continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, please, I want you to remain quiet until I\u2019ve said what I\u2019ve got to say. Then, if you have anything to say about what I want to tell you, we\u2019ll discuss it then. Agreed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon\u2026first let me say, I know I\u2019m not your mother. Nor am I Hoss or Adam\u2019s mother\u2026not in the since that a mother in most every since of the word is a woman. But it takes more to be a mother than just being a woman. A woman gives birth to a child sure, but it takes a man to help that woman make that child. But a mother means more than just bringing a child into the world. It\u2019s what a mother does for her young once that child is born. She cooks and cleans and sees after that child, tends to her offspring\u2019s every need when that child is a baby. Then she\u2019s there to help that child take his or her first steps\u2026she teaches her baby to talk and teaches them to feed themselves. Later on she helps with homework and all the while she takes care of the other members of her family. Why, there\u2019s dirty clothes to wash, and meals to cook, a garden to harvest and baking to be done\u2026her job is never-ending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled down at the boy beside him, relieved to see that some of the gloominess he\u2019d seen before on his son\u2019s face had slowly began to dissipate. He hurried on.<\/p>\n

\u201cMothers usually are the ones who gets up at night when her baby or child needs her because they\u2019re hungry or in need of a clean diaper. Maybe the child had a nightmare\u2026and mama is always there to hold and cuddle her little one until he or she feels safe again and is sound asleep before she places him back in bed. Many nights when her child is sick, she\u2019ll stay by the bedside all night if necessary, just to be sure that her little one gets the rest they need, regardless of the fact that she might be worn completely out\u2026she refuses to leave. A mother does all of that\u2026and much, much more son, because she loves you. But Joe\u2026son\u2026a mother isn\u2019t the only person who can do those things\u2026and do them for all the same reasons\u2026mostly for love\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Pa\u2026but\u2026but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat son?\u201d Ben asked, gently slipping his arm about the slender frame as Joe scooted over closer to his father.<\/p>\n

The lad looked into his father\u2019s eyes. The tears had disappeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember my mama doing all those things\u2026but after she\u2026died\u2026I remember that it was you what did them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It was as if a light had gone on in the boy\u2019s head. Suddenly, Little Joe smiled. And then just as quickly the smile faded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026understand now, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you understand, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cYes sir\u2026sometimes when a kid ain\u2019t got no mama\u2026like me and Hoss and Adam\u2026a father has to be both mama and papa. That\u2019s what you\u2019ve been to Adam, and me and Hoss ain\u2019t it? You been both a mother and a father to us,\u201d beamed Little Joe.<\/p>\n

Ben felt a tug on his heartstrings as he cupped the angelic face in the palm of his hand and smiled warmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve tried son\u2026and not just because I had to, but because I wanted to\u2026because I love you\u2026and your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pulled away just for a second, just long enough to wrap his arms about his father\u2019s waist and squeeze.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon if any father ever deserved to attend his son\u2019s Mother\u2019s Day dinner, it\u2019s you, Pa. And if\u2019n ya really want to go\u2026then\u2026\u201d Little Joe smiled up at Ben. \u201cThen I reckon it\u2019s alright with me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben returned the hug and stood to his feet, bring Little Joe up into his arms along with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you understand, son\u2026now,\u201d he said as he stood Joe on the edge of the bed. \u201cWhat\u2019s say you and I get all dolled up and I\u2019ll have Hoss hitch up the scurry and you and I will just go to the Mother\u2019s Day dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe slung his arms about his father\u2019s neck, giving Ben a big wet kiss on the cheek. Ben giggled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Pa, do I gotta wear a tie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if I gotta were that corsage Miss Jones sent out a little while ago, I guess you have\u2019ta wear a tie\u2026\u201d Ben laughed along with his son and then lovingly swatted Joe\u2019s little bottom. \u201cNow hurry it up and start getting ready! I\u2019ll be back to check on you as soon as I\u2019m dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Pa,\u201d laughed Little Joe as he jumped down from the bed and watched his father heading for the door. \u201cPa!\u201d he called, stopping Ben before he closed the door. \u201cI\u2026love ya!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben swallowed the knot in his throat and forced a smile to push back the sudden onslaught of tears that threatened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you to, Little Joe,\u201d he responded, closing the door gently.
\nLater that night, Joe stood with his father in front of the Palace Hotel. Several of his classmates and their mothers pasted them by, each one giving he and his father strange, confused glances, but no one made a comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ready to go in now, son, it\u2019s almost time?\u201d Ben said, feeling just a bit nervous himself. He saw Joe swallow hard and knew that when the boy looked at him, his son\u2019s smile was forced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am if you are,\u201d mutter Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, let\u2019s do it,\u201d Ben said as he opened the door, permitting Joe to enter in front of him.<\/p>\n

The big dining room was buzzing with mothers, sons and daughters. Laughter was light and merry and when they entered the room, a hush fell upon the room\u2019s inhabitants. All heads turned as if each were on a swivel to stare in awe at the young boy and the tall silver headed man who stood next to him. It was an awkward couple of minutes for all until Miss Abigail sudden appeared from the crowd and made her way to the front of the room to greet and welcome Joseph and his mother\u2026ere\u2026father to the Mother\u2019s Day dinner.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Mr. Cartwright, what a\u2026pleasant surprise,\u201d greeted Miss Jones. She placed her hand into Ben\u2019s and smiled. \u201cI\u2019m so pleased that\u2026you\u2026came tonight\u2026I wasn\u2019t sure if young Joseph could talk you into it or not,\u201d she babbled.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s smile was warm as he pulled his hand free from the teacher\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it was the other way around\u2026\u201d Ben started to explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? I\u2019m not sure I understand,\u201d Miss Jones said with a look of confusion on her face.<\/p>\n

Ben, still smiling and ever the gentleman, leaned closer and spoke in a low tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to talk Little Joe into coming with me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Jones looked down at Joe and studied his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was afraid that some of the kids would laugh at\u2026me,\u201d Ben quickly stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, poppy-cock\u2026not even the kids would laugh at anything Ben Cartwright did!\u201d Miss Jones, somewhat flustered, exclaimed. \u201cYou come right in and\u2026enjoy yourself\u2026my goodness, everyone in town knows you\u2019ve been both father AND mother to your boys!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Miss Jones. I knew you would understand,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph\u2026please, find your seats and you and your father sit down, it\u2019s about time for the waiters to begin serving,\u201d Miss Jones instructed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes ma\u2019am,\u201d smiled Little Joe. He glanced up at his father who happened to be smiling down at him. \u201cCome on, Pa\u2026I think our places are over here.\u201d
\nThe evening passed quickly for the father, son combo. Once one or two of the older boys made snickering comments about Little Joe Cartwright being at the Mother\u2019s Day dinner with his father, but as soon as their own mothers heard what was being said, the remarks were quickly silenced.<\/p>\n

Before long, Miss Jones stood before her students and their mothers\u2026and Joe\u2019s father. The waiters had hurried to clear away the dirtied dishes and to bring fresh coffee to the mothers who desired a cup. Abigail cleared her throat; a silence washed over the room as everyone strained to hear what the schoolmarm was about to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst off, I\u2019d like to thank all of you mothers\u2026ere\u2026and Mr. Cartwright for being here tonight in honor of our mothers. I\u2019m sure most of you had to make special arrangements with the other members of your family and I want each of you to know how very much I appreciate your efforts\u2026as do your children. Isn\u2019t that right children?\u201d Miss Jones stated.<\/p>\n

Shouts went up immediately and continued until the teacher had to clap her hands to regain their attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she said. \u201cSecondly, I personally, would like to wish each of you mo\u2026parents, a very happy Mother\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone applauded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd,\u201d she continued, \u201cI like to read a little something from an excerpt that I happened across quite by accident. When I found it, I thought how beautiful, how true and I felt led to share it with each of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, cooing, \u201cIt\u2019s alright, mama\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is for those who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can\u2019t be comforted.<\/p>\n

This for all the mothers who work through the next day with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on the blouses.<\/p>\n

For all the mothers who clean and make cookies and sew dresses and shirts and for all the mothers who DON\u2019T.<\/p>\n

This for the mothers who gave birth to babies they\u2019ll never see grow because they were taken to soon.<\/p>\n

This is for the mothers who gave up their children through the selfless act of adoption and to the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.<\/p>\n

This for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on every wall in every room.<\/p>\n

And for all the mothers who sat through recitals and watched their sons ride for the first time and then shout to them, \u201cDid you see me, Mama\u201d, they could say, \u201cOf course, I wouldn\u2019t have missed it for the world,\u201d and mean it.<\/p>\n

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids for not doing their homework or pinch them for squirming in their seats on Sunday mornings or swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for sweets before dinner. And for all the mothesr who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.<\/p>\n

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for the grandmothers who wanted to, but just couldn\u2019t find the words.<\/p>\n

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.<\/p>\n

For all the mothers who read the same bedtime story twice a night for a year and read it again, \u201cJust one more time.\u201d<\/p>\n

This for all the mothers who taught their children to wash behind their ears and then checked for cleanliness, only to tell them to try again.<\/p>\n

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and then stand and watch as their daughters learn to rope and ride.<\/p>\n

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls, \u201cMama?\u201d in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home\u2026or married with children of their own.<\/p>\n

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they\u2019d be just FINE once they got there, only to get a message an hour later asking them to please pick them up right away.<\/p>\n

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can\u2019t find the words to reach them.<\/p>\n

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 12-year old daughters discover that boys aren\u2019t so yucky after all.<\/p>\n

For all the mothers of the victims of shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.<\/p>\n

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat through their child\u2019s murder trials.<\/p>\n

This for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.<\/p>\n

For all the mother\u2019s who taught their children to love God and for the mothers of those who have turned from their faith.<\/p>\n

What makes a good Mother anyway?<\/p>\n

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?<\/p>\n

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?<\/p>\n

Or is it in her heart<\/p>\n

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the road, walking to school alone for the very first time?<\/p>\n

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?<\/p>\n

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear the front door open ad close and know they are safe again in your home?<\/p>\n

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, an accident, a child dying?<\/p>\n

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation\u2026<\/p>\n

And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers.<\/p>\n

Mothers with money, mothers without.<\/p>\n

This is for you all. For all of us. Stay strong, never give up. In the end we can only do the best we can.<\/p>\n

Tell them everyday that you love them!<\/p>\n

And pray\u2026
\nA strange, unexplainable silence fell over the crowd of mothers and children. The only sound heard was the rustling of the paper in Miss Jones hands as she folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket.
\nBen looked down as he felt his son\u2019s fingers under the table and out of sight entwine with his own and squeeze gently. His heart thumped rapidly deep within his broad chest. He knew it hadn\u2019t been easy\u2026being both father and mother to his three sons, but he\u2019d done it and for all the reasons Miss Jones had just spoke aloud. Those thoughts would be embedded in his heart and glancing again at his young son, he knew that the same thoughts would embed themselves in the heart of a young boy struggling on the edge of manhood. Ben returned the squeeze to Joe\u2019s fingers. Joe looked up at his father and returned the smile but whispered lowly so that only his father could hear:
\n\u201cHappy Mother\u2019s Day\u2026Pa.\u201d
\n\u201cThank you, Joe\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cNo\u2026thank you\u2026for everything\u2026for being father and mother to me\u2026I want ya to know, Pa\u2026I understand now and\u2026I love ya more\u2019n anybody else in the whole wide world!\u201d<\/p>\n

THE END<\/p>\n

Mother\u2019s Day, 2006<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0Ten year old Joe learns that sometimes mothers are more than just being a woman.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (4,400 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":8421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-12151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Ben-Draw.jpg?fit=278%2C354&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12151\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}