My thoughts tonight are with the mothers who lost their homes sixty years ago… and with the mothers who gained a homeland.

I am thinking of my sisters in my heart, the women who claimed me as their own when I lived in Sharjah. Women whose mothers’ mothers hid them down the well when the soldiers came knocking on the door. I think of my friends here in Washington who made their journey to the promised land and came back, full of bright hope for their own peoples’ dreams.

We mothers would do well to teach our children to know the other, to learn well the hearts and minds of those we call our enemies. We should teach our children not to be afraid, but to be open-hearted and curious. We should ourselves extend a hand of forgiveness as often as there is a hand to hold out. Did we give birth to our babies only to lose them to war? Did you have a son so that he could kill another mother’s son, or be killed by one?

Such is the nature of every human conflict. There is a good guy. There is a bad guy. Sometimes, it’s not who’s right who determines which side gets labeled ‘hero’ or ‘villain’… sometimes, it’s simply who won. If we can teach our children to see both sides of that same coin, perhaps we can avoid darker times than the ones that are ahead.

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We each of us harbor crazy dreams, hopes, wishes that you know in your sane moments can never come true. Often, the biggest mistake we make about people is imposing upon them what we see as their potential to become, rather than accepting the skin they are in, physically and metaphorically, at the present moment in time.

As you move through your life and interact with other people, please take a moment and listen to your internal conversation. If you hear yourself sighing in a swoony inner voice, “He (or she) is just perfect, if only…” STOP RIGHT THERE.

Is it a big ‘if only’ or a little one? Do you finish that sentence with something silly like, “…if only he’d admit he’s going bald and lose the comb-over…” or is it something more serious, having to do with emotional problems or financial crises? Do you find yourself waiting for things to get better? Do you find you’re giving the people in your life the benefit of the doubt more often than not, making excuses, holding your breath?

If you’ve got a slew of ‘yes, but…’ backing up in your brain, you might have to get out the pencil and paper and weigh the value of the relationship against its inevitable toll. And let me tell you one thing I know is true, beyond a shadow of a doubt: Drugs. Drunks. Debtors who spend wrecklessly. Angry people. Someone who hits… These are all occasions where you get out. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Get out. If you still love that person you might be able to help him or her from a safe distance, but your first priority is to keep yourself and your children safe.

That said, if all that person’s doing to annoy you in life is chewing with an open mouth, I think it’s safe to say you can decide if you can live with it or no. But remember, you probably can’t change it.

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I actually have a sweater–for me–on needles right now. Knitting needles. It’s a neck-down, hooded raglan with a nifty Celtic-ish design on the back. It’s a yoga sweater, and some day, I’ll study yoga, and have a lovely sweater to wear.

I’ve dabbled in needlepoint, latch-hooking, and a slew of other needle and fibre arts. I can make my own clothes… I did make some of my son’s clothes when he was a baby.

But I’ve got nothing on Chloe, resident blogger at Tangled Thread three doors down on the b5media lifestyle channel.

She’s got some beautiful projects for us grown-ups to do… and it looks as though she’s going to be branching out into kid craft, as well. If you’re looking for a fun felt project to do with your daughter, check out this simple felt flower... a wonderful addition to a dress for springtime fun.

I know single mothers don’t have a lot of free time, but if you can find a hand art you can do while watching television or movies at home, you’ll have some beautiful things to show for all that time. Check out Chloe’s blog. She can get you inspired.

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He painted them himself. The one in the foreground is a galaxy. The one in the background is of a storm. I think they are absolutely magical.

My mother cut out the canvas and bound the placemats, then sealed them.

We switch them back and forth. It’s his turn tomorrow to get the storm one for breakfast. I can’t wait.

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It has been a lovely day, grey skies and all. The KoE and I are busy doing housework and a little bit of detective work.

You see, someone apparently was in a desperate fix for Mother’s Day flowers, and helped him- or herself to the ones left at my gate yesterday. Thankfully, a neighbor stopped by to ask if I’d gotten the flowers he’d seen there… and beat his breast in sadness that he hadn’t thought to stop and put them somewhere safer than right on the street where anyone could steal them.

Which, apparently, someone did.

I’m so grateful that someone saw the flowers and could tell me I got some. Wish he’d been a little more inquisitive, though, and read the INSIDE of the card. I have no idea who sent them to me, and though my suspicions run to friends like Fannfare and Mme. Meow, who would do such things for this single mom, there are other possibilities out there.

Which, in its own way, is a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day. Someone loves me enough to think of me today. And I get to imagine who it is. So thank you, all of you, for being here with me through this transformation into a happy, single mother of a happy, single son. We couldn’t have done it without you.

And to the person who stole the flowers? You’re welcome to them–only next time, be considerate and throw the card back into my front gate, so I can thank the person who bought you flowers?

Thanks.

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