My Mother's Day Tribute

Last weekend was Madison's first communion. Madison is Joey's God-Daughter. He has been very close friends with her parents, Ben and Raquel since high school. They are my close friends, too. No, not just close friends, they are family. I felt that the first time I met then and it's been that way ever since.

A lot has been going on this year and Raquel really wanted to make Maddie's first communion special. When Raquel makes something special that means one big party filled with the best food you will ever have in your life. However, with her schedule she was wondering how she would pull this off, especially since she obviously needed to be at the church. Since she couldn't be in two places at once I offered to help her out by staying behind at her house and setting things up. This was partly selfish on my part. Raquel is the best chef I know. I would really do anything for just a small chance to be with her in the kitchen. Little did I know that this would be an eye opening glimpse into what it takes to be a mom.

We arrived at Raquel's at 9 am as requested. I was a bit concerned when she answered the door and was still in her mom clothes but I ignored that. We had work to do! Raquel, of course, had everything more than organized. Two pans of lasagna in one oven, shepherds pie in the other - the list really goes on and on. She had a very clear list of what Rosa and I were to do for the two hours we had while they were at church. I looked and her and said, "Honey, you are so organized!" She said, "I have to be. I'm a mom."

While Raquel was explaining all we needed to do, the mom clothes finally did start to concern me. Don't girls take a long time to get ready? Right now there was less than 15 minutes before Raquel had to leave.

"Umm, honey, don't you need to get ready?"

"Oh, yeah, I guess I should."

So, while Rosa and I are planning our strategy Raquel waltzes into the bedroom and changes. She goes into the bathroom to do her hair and makeup and all the while is available for questions of which I had many. No more than ten minutes later, that woman comes into the kitchen just doesn't look good - she looks stunning. Talk about zero to sixty! (Okay, Raquel is never a zero, but you know what I mean.) I look at her in awe and say, "Honey, how did you do that?!" She smiles and says, "I do it all the time. I'm a mom."

Everyone leaves and for the next two hours Rosa and I are busy bees. All of Raquel's instructions were spot on. "Start the lumpia at 10 am." "Light the flames at 10:30 sharp." We really had a lot do to. Suddenly it dawned on me. How in the hell does Raquel do this? We were doing less than 1/20 of what it took to get this ready. Honestly, how does she do this? This woman works full-time. Madison has a very active schedule to say the least. On top of that, Ben is on his second tour in Iraq. Here she is making not just a little party, but an event. But, you know what? She does this all the time. Every birthday, every Christmas, every Thanksgiving - all the time and never once have I heard her complain. Why? She's a mom.

So, Raquel gets home, thanks us a million times and starts preparing everything else on the menu. The menu - pretty spectacular:

• Lasagna
• Shephards Pie
• Homemade quacamole
• Blackened Steak Salad
• Lumpia
• Pancit
• Crudite with hummus and ranch dressing
• Cheese platter
• Amazing Chicken salad
  
• Chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and marsh mellows
• THE most amazing home cake ever. I mean ever!

You know what Raquel, my hat's off to you! I cannot express my sincere awe of everything you do. I believe children are a reflection of their parents and Madison is exactly that. She is the smartest, most delightful and wonderful girl I have ever met. Just like her mom.

When all this was over, Raquel showed me a note Maddie wrote. She said, "This is why I love being a mom."













Here's to all my mom girlfriends (and boyfriends)! There are a lot of you!!! You all are simply amazing and I don't think we ever really stop to think of how much you do and how you are always there to do it. You give us everything we need when we need it. I don't care if it's cliché - every day should be Mother's Day. Thanks for everything you do. I think you are awesome and I know your kids do, too. I don't know how you do it, but you do. Of course you do, you're a mom.