I was given a writing assignment for a class project in 7th, or 8th grade (I think) and I spent days erasing, crumpling and re-writing endlessly lined pages of, nothing.

I couldn't get passed working up even an outline.

I remember becoming very frustrated and - throwing my notebook into the bottom drawer of my bureau, thinking that I would probably make a lousy writer - deep down inside, I believed there was a voice to be heard.

If only I could find it.

So, I ditched the outline and decided to just write - a biography about my mother escaping war-torn Europe, as a teenager - and received a "C" for the project, with the following note from Mrs. Nelson:

...is a lovely story of courage, strength and  - although, a little long - shows great passion.  However, the assignment was to creat a fictional piece.

There ended my writing career, as far as I was concerned, and I showed my mother the paper and thought I was going to die, when she started to cry.

"I don't care about your grade."

I looked up at her, totally confused, and she wiped at the drops of wet from my eyes.

"You know exactly what I would say, if I could write it."

Yesterday, I was awakened by four little monkies - yes, they were all jumping on my bed - then escorted to the breakfast table, scattered with petals (picked from the garden) and roses at my seat.

"The kids made up a poem, while you slept, this morning."

I have always tried to encourage my kids to express themselves through their writing and my husband handed me a freshly-brewed cup of coffee, as I started to read:

What Mother Stands For

M stands for the miracles Mom creates

O stands for the "Oh, Honey" we get when she goes to hug us tight

T stands for thoughtful which she is every single day

H stands for the helpful which Mom is when we need her

E stand for the extreme which Mom is when she does drop-offs and pick-ups

R stands for respect which we try to give her, but sometimes fail...

Mother is a special word that seldom people are called, but I think the one Who best suits this, is The Mother of us all

"Why is Mommy crying?"

I am a woman of many words - ask my parents, or husband, and they'll tell you that I have an affinity for making conversation with total strangers - except, now.

"Because, she liked our poem and they're happy tears, right Momma!?!"

Yes - I am very happy to be the mother of them all - but, then again, I also happen to think that they are all pretty much grade "A" material, too!