Did you know that the woman who founded Mother’s Day back in 1908-Anna Jarvis-daughter of social activist and American Civil War community organizer Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis-ended up working really hard yet unsuccessfully to kill the holiday off years later? She found the growing commercialization of Mother’s Day that had evolved quite repugnant. What do YOU think?

Happy (Belated) Mothering/Motherhood/Maternal Stuff/Mother’s Day, anyways. Here are some Funny, Whacky, Scary & just plain Beautiful stories some key women in my life shared with me in honor of this holiday:

SCARY Motherhood Stories~

From my cousin Ronda on her eldest son, Dylan:

In 3rd grade, my son attended a daycare program after school every day. It was within walking distance of the school, so the daycare workers would come walk the students from the school to the day care center every day. One afternoon, one of the daycare workers called me to check on our son, saying he hadn't seen him for 3 days & wanted to make sure he was doing ok. I giggled & said, "Uhh no, you must of missed him somehow. He's been there. I've picked him up from there the last 3 days!". The teacher says, "No ma'am, I'm sorry, but he hasn't been here & he definitely isn't here right now either.". My heart dropped!! Where is my son?! I rushed out & drove around town hoping to spot him somewhere. Teachers and police officers were doing the same. Shortly before 5 PM, when we would usually pick him up, he showed up at the daycare center. Thank God! But where has he been? My sneaky son had been taking the school bus home with a friend and then walking back to the day care center just in time to be picked up. My 7 year old son... cutting daycare & walking the streets as if he was a grown man!! This kid of ours!! He learned his lesson after that. And so did we! He's kept us on our toes for many years & this story is one we won't ever forget.

From my WSW and part time guest blogger on having kids:

When I convinced my partner that we should have a baby in our late thirties, I assured him that it really wasn't going to change anything--babies are small and portable--we'd just put the little creature into a sling and fold him or her into our present lives as aspiring artists. (There wasn't even any need to get married!) But the night after my son was born I sat and wept at the kitchen table because, "Now we're not just two people with three dogs...now we're a family!" His presence had instantly transformed us into a new entity. Twelve years later, his talent for playing water polo drew us from New Mexico (where I'd lived for two decades) back to California--specifically, southern California--the center of the water polo universe. Rather than folding him into our existence, the opposite has occurred. And there's no telling what direction his little sister is going to take us next...!

From my aunt Julie on her son (and youngest kid), Corey~

I was 9.5 months pregnant when the doctor sent me to the hospital to get induced. On the way to there, I went into labor. About 12 hours later having tried to give birth, the Dr used forceps, a suction type thing and then said "the head is too big, do you want me to continue?" and I screamed "NO !! get this thing out of me !!!" so off to get a C-Section. They told my husband that he couldn't come into the operating room but he lied and said that he was an EMT, so they let him watch. You know that they keep you awake (during a C Section)?? They numb you from your neck down which is a very, very scary sensation. I gave birth to a healthy 11 lb baby boy. After it was all over, my husband said, "Now I can say that I know you inside and out!"
We're no longer married. :-)

From Jean on her mother~

When I was young, my mom would leave us and go to Reno. She would run away. One night, when I was about 10, my mother ran away and drove to the coast and threatened to drive her car off a cliff. The night was stormy and only my sister Charlie and my sister Mary’s boyfriend were home when she called us. I never asked my mom what that was like for her or what she was going through. I imagine it was scary.

FUNNY Motherhood Stories~

From my Marie on her daughter, Aysia~

When my daughter was a baby and wasn’t sleeping well I was so exhausted. I ended up putting mouthwash in my hair instead of hair gel. And it took me the whole day before I figured out why my hair smelled minty fresh.

From my wonderful step mom, Katy on her mom, Elvira~

I was a teenager & taking a shower in our upstairs bathroom. My Mother banged on the door & said, don't come out, the fire department is here & then left. I didn't know if the house was burning down or what??? So, I stayed in the bathroom waiting for a long time. I later found out she had set some lamb chops on fire while broiling them.

BEAUTIFUL Motherhood Stories~

From Aerica on her daughter~

I took my daughter for a stay at Disneyland's California Adventures Hotel, so we could spend a couple of days at the Parks. They had a theme restaurant in the Hotel, and we were having breakfast before we started our day of fun. Some of the characters made an appearance, and some little kids were going up to them, and the characters were making them laugh. One little girl seemed especially happy. We were both enjoying the spectacle, when I said, "Wow, Honey, I guess this really is the happiest place on Earth." Without missing a beat, my daughter replied, "No it's not, Mommy. Our home is." I almost burst into tears on the spot.

From Jean on witnessing motherhood emerging~

Watching a child be born. I have had the privilege of watching about 6 babies being born.