Jake Spurlock

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    <p>when i think about mothers whom i have learned from about the actual act of "motherhood"</p>
    <p>many different women come to mind.</p>
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    <p>mothers that love their children for who they are and what they can see in their child's future.</p>
    <p>mothers that encourage the gifts each individual child has.</p>
    <p>mothers who listen more than they talk.</p>
    <p>mothers who have boundaries and rules but aren't dictators.</p>
    <p>mothers who are creative...in life and in discipline.</p>
    <p>mothers that are faithful in prayer for their children.</p>
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    <p>what i have taken away from the mothers in my life is that i can relax and enjoy them.</p>
    <p>they will get hurt.</p>
    <p>they will get sick.</p>
    <p>they will get their hearts broken.</p>
    <p>and they may in fact break MY heart.</p>
    <p>but i cannot control them.</p>
    <p>i get to teach them, advise them, love them and dream big for them.</p>
    <p>but they have the choice to become whatever they want...giving whatever effort they want...</p>
    <p>make good  or not-so-good choices for their life.</p>
    <p>i cannot make them choose my way.</p>
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    <p>and that is liberating.</p>
    <p>it makes me want to teach, advise, love and dream even more.</p>
    <p>because if i am doing that....i am doing my best.</p>
    <p>if i give my best to my kids...then I AM GIVING MY BEST.</p>
    <p>nothing is better than that.</p>
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    <p>i like to have fun with my kids.</p>
    <p>i love to see them get silly or messy.</p>
    <p>and it makes me so happy to see them be creative.</p>
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    <p>it's ok to get messy.</p>
    <p>it's ok to be silly.</p>
    <p>it's ok to be whatever kind of mom you want to be!    </p>
    <p>it's ok to say no (to cell phones or sleep overs....)</p>
    <p>it's ok to say yes (to one more cookie...paint on their hands...staying up late to read).</p>
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    <p>it is an honor to be a mother.</p>
    <p>in my humble opinion....there is no greater calling on earth.</p>
    <p>nor is there a harder profession.</p>
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    <p>i am giving it my best.</p>
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    <p>happy mother's day.</p>
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