NFRC Happy Mother's Day

maycee

Well-known member
Tomorrow I will be the banker at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay Grade Improvement Shopping Spree. Hundreds of kids whose school grades have improved over the year will be given play money to buy things from notebooks to computers and bicycles donated from corporations in the area. Needless to say I will be so wiped out I wont get to log on here but I wanted to wish all you Mother's a happy day...

This is for all the Moms!! Happy Mothers Day!!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf Laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid Saying, "It's alright honey, Mommy's here." Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end? Soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their Blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make Cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the Mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And the mothers who took those Babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art Collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on Metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead Of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then Read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their Children to tie their shoelaces before they started School. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro Instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a Crowd, even though they know their own offspring are At home -- or even away at college.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them?

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their Time, attention, and love... sometimes totally Unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent School shootings and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their Children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M.to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know t hey are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation... And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

Please pass along to all the Moms in your life.

Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.

(I just did.)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

 
So beautiful - thank you.

And what a wonderful thing you are doing for those children - I will look into seeing if we have something like that in our area. I would love to be involved in it.

Thank you again,

Debra

 
You're very welcome. But in the interest of full disclosure...

I do work in the admin offices of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. I'm the Donor Services Manager ie. database, webmaster, fundraiser. I don't work directly with the kids but I do volunteer for this event every year. In my position I do work a lot of donor events schmoozing with major sponsors but this one is for the kids! Even though we have corporate sponsors for the shopping spree they are only allowed to attend if they work. We have VP's and doctors, chairmen and Monsignors, quarterbacks and city commissioners working in t-shirts and jeans setting up the merchandise in the "stores" and selling.

So I appreciate your kind works but I'm really a very selfish guy...I do this because if makes me feel so good.

 
The event? No, I believe it was started by the

Area Supervisor in the office across the hall from me. Richard started as a kid in the Club 52 years ago and has been employed here for over 40 years. Even he doesn't remember who started the event.

He also does the Bike Giveaway at Christmas. 200 kids are invited to the Armory for a Christmas party with Santa and table favors. The whole back of the Armory is curtained off with black drapes. While the kids are mesmerized by a magician on stage Santa sneaks back of the drapes. The magician starts the kids singing Jingle Bells. When they get to the end Santa wishes the kids a Merry Christmas and volunteers drop the drapes revealing 200 brand new bicycles and helmets that have their name hanging from the handlebars.

The bikes go to our club members and if they have brothers and/or sisters they each get a new bike. These are kids that wouldn't have a Christmas otherwise.

You know, you don't get paid much working for a non-profit but there are some days that you just don't give a damn.

 
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