Mothers are our heroes

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller use this space to offer their views on everyday issues.

HE SAID:

Dear Callie,

You need to relax this week, so don't worry about the column. I'll take care of it. This one's on me.

You have so many responsibilities these days, the last thing you needed was a kidney stone. But as we have come to understand, anything painful that can happen to you usually does.

What a horrible afternoon it was Tuesday. You up on the ER table, broken to tears over a tiny speck of something that got caught in one of your tubes. Funny how the little things catch our attention, no?

I've noticed how you pay much more attention to the little things these days. You notice the small patches of dry skin on Dawson's face, all of the thousands of minute, day-to-day changes in Dawson's behavior.

Sometimes out of admiration I watch you take care of Dawson, quickly walking back and forth across the nursery gathering a tube of something, or a diaper, a cloth. You're a mom on a mission, and it's pleasant to watch you.

I have been quite impressed with you so far, not that I expected anything less. Your patience has improved, while mine has gotten shorter. I've watched your heart grow. I see love in that tired face.

In the 37 weeks you carried Dawson inside of you, I considered you a hero, though I didn't express that notion near enough. All mothers are heroes. During pregnancy, you were like a Defender of the Universe, protecting our new world from the dangers of the Earth.

You still are a hero, Callie. Your powers have only grown. You save Dawson's life every day. You do it despite kidney stones. You do it despite a bum shoulder. You do it with the amazing power of love and with all of the cuteness and talent you can muster. I hope that I've lived up to at least the ranking of bumbling sidekick.

Yes, mothers are our heroes. Your mother was our hero for her Paul Revere-like response to our emergency. And my mother was, too, for staying while you cleared from your morphine haze. We owe them a great bit of gratitude, obviously. What great mothers we have, Callie. And what a great mother you are, too.

Happy Mother's Day, Cal.

Thank you for all you do.

Love,

Bob

Callie Clark Miller is the special publications managing editor for the Southeast Missourian and celebrating her first Mother's Day. Bob Miller is her bumbling sidekick and the Southeast Missourian managing editor. Reach them at cmiller@semissourian.com and bmiller@semissourian.com.