What Moms Mean to Me By Jeff LaBonte, Triplet Dad Originally printed in May, 2006 So, guys. What are you doing for your wives on Mothers’ Day? “Nothing, she’s not my mother…!” Yeah, we’ve all used that one. It doesn’t appear to be as funny to my wife as it seems to me, though. When Renée asked me to work a Mothers’ Day theme in to my column this month, I immediately started thinking about gushing over my wife being such a great mom without sounding like a worn out Lifetime Original Movie. But as I put pen to paper, (yeah, I actually write this stuff before I type it), I realized that, as wonderful a mother she is to our children, perhaps this column shouldn’t be about my wife, but my two mothers. I have been tremendously blessed when it comes to my real mother. For one, she is still married to my father. I am grateful that I did not grow up in a broken home. I have seen the lifelong pain divorce can inflict on a family. I have always appreciated – I think – the things my mother has done for my brother and I over the years. She sacrifices for her children, shows us plenty of love, always encourages, always supports and puts her children number one. Looking back, I realize how she put so many of her interests and hobbies on hold in exchange for endless trips to the zoo, carting my brother and I to games, museums, music classes, and various lessons. Both my brother and I attended parochial schools, a financial sacrifice that I am sure crimped the family resources. Mom taught me critical life skills, like how to cook, how to iron my own clothes, how to grocery shop, laundry basics and how to clean. Okay, some life lessons didn’t sink in as well as others…! I guess this all seemed trivial at the time, but I can’t imagine feeling lost in the kitchen or not knowing how to iron a shirt while on a business trip. How would I ever function? Since becoming a parent, I have a new understanding and appreciation for how hard it is to raise well-adjusted, productive, self-sufficient children. There are so many pieces that have to fall into place – no, be put into place – that it is mind-boggling. And my mom did it… twice. Okay, one-and-a-half times (just joking, Mom… and little bro!). I love you, Mom. But wait, there’s more. Sometime around 1992, I inherited another mom when I met my wife, Jenny. “Mom 2” has not been in my life as long, but she truly has become like a mother to me. Her love and kindness have taken many forms in the 14 years Jenny and I have been together. Just as with my own mother, I can’t possibly detail it all here. Most amazing to me though has been her support through our pregnancy and house fire. Mom 2’s first reaction when she found out her daughter was having triplets was to move from Maryland to Massachusetts to live with us. Then, she sold her Maryland house, bought a house in the town over from us and, since Mom 2 is retired and Dad 2 is not, she left her husband living in a friend’s garage apartment back in Maryland! That is dedication! That is love. I give my father-in-law a lot of credit, too, but Dad’s Day isn’t until June, so be patient. Many a guy would cringe at the thought of having their mother-in-law move in with them, but I can honestly say that I never had such apprehension. I am convinced that a major reason why Jenny’s pregnancy went so smoothly to 36 weeks was because her mother was there every day, cooking, cleaning, changing the “Sex and the City” DVDs, fetching whatever Jen needed and just about everything else you can imagine. After the babies arrived, Mom 2 stayed overnight at our house for months. She and Jenny did the 2am feedings so I could be functional enough to go back to work. After we lost our house to fire in November, 2004, we moved into Mom 2’s house, where we stayed for the 11 months it took to rebuild. Mom 2 eventually went down to Maryland to be with Dad 2, leaving us the house for as long as we needed. I can only imagine how much more we would have struggled through those days if Mom 2 had not been right there to pick us up. I love you, too, Mom 2. I will wrap up by wishing all of you mothers reading this a Happy Mother’s Day. I would also remind all the children out there that we shouldn’t need a special day to stop and tell Mom how much we appreciate and love her. When you dads take the kids to buy that card (and the place looks more like an amusement park than a CVS), remember that there are 364 other days when Mom deserves our love and gratitude as well. Have a great one, and don’t let the kids burn the toast!