Maternally Yours: Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day is a bittersweet day for me. It’s a day I am so thankful for what I have, but always reminded of what is missing.

But I do have three wonderful children, and for them, I am eternally grateful.

In the spirit of celebrating mothers and motherhood, I was recently asked to review a book for this Mother’s Day (and any day) and I’m happy to share this with you today. Maternally Yours by Rene Urbanovich is a lovely collection of poems and memoirs, written by Rene over the years in what started out as her journal. She transformed her journal into a beautiful collection of stories that all mothers can connect with. The joyful times, the difficult times, birth, growth, change, fear, failure, laughter, love… and more are included in this book. I enjoyed reading the stories that were so similar to some of my own experiences and again realizing that all mothers have troubles and triumphs. Motherhood is wonderful, but motherhood is often hard.

I wanted to share this particular poem, taken from pages 34-35 of Maternally Yours. It resonates so much with the feelings that I experience regularly!

Mothering

It drains me ’til I’m empty, hollow like a well.

Each one throws in wishes. Oh I’m too tired to fulfill.

Each one tugs a limb and even daddy needs to play on my affection–on my waters.

I want to run away. Can’t they see the wells run dry?

I need to, but cannot cry–

over my own thoughts, my own dreams, my fears, my hopes, my heart,

all one enormous heap waiting for me to sort.

I don’t know where to start.

I’ll be the dreams have withered

son and daughter dried.

Housework torn and tethered, too long they’ve been denied.

Yes it drains me ’til I’m empty,

like a hollow well.

Each one tosses wishes, and I’m too tired to fulfill.

But when I’m full,

it’s magic.

I can pull the stars in reach

and touch the greatest wonder.

We feast upon our dreams–

When I’m full

it’s pure.

It’s joy recycled twice, destined to endure

beyond the dishes piled high.

It’s the making of a soul within.

creation

power

life.

~Rene Urbanovich

Maternally Yours

 For Mother’s Day or any day, I highly recommend this sweet book for any Mother that is in your life! Rene Urbanovich captures our hearts through sharing hers in her journey through the challenges and wonders of motherhood! The best part is that the proceeds of her book are going to a Haitian children’s charity, called Timoun Kiskeya, which helps orphanages in Port au Prince. You can find out more about this at http://www.reneurbanovich.com.

 

*Disclosure – I was provided a free copy of the book for this review, but all opinions are mine.