Did you know that Julia Ward Howe also wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic?  Women of that era who suffered through the Civil War, knew just as we do today that matters of war and peace are never simple.  It's easy to read the Mother's Day Proclamation and think of it as a naive sentiment, but really looking back at Julia Ward Howe's life, I think she and her contemporaries well knew just how much they were asking.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers Who Talk, and to all the other moms out there.

Here is glimpse of the fun side of motherhood. Note to thyself: It’s not all drudgery!

There was no school on Monday, but Amy had to work. She asked me if I wanted to share a babysitter. Considering I have been alone with the kids since Wednesday -- Markos is holed up in a faraway cabin finishing up his book -- I was all over that.

We had the kids over at my house. While I was checking e-mail and writing in our home office, Ari and Amy’s son, Jude, were nearby playing “school.” Being his bossy self, Ari insisted on being the teacher. “It’s naptime, Jude! I have laid down the pillows.”

“Okay,” said Jude, as he laid across three pillows and used one of Markos’s sweaters as a blanket.

The boys also ate snacks -- yogurts -- on place mats side-by-side on the floor. (In Ari’s school, the teachers take naps and eat snacks, too.) They also had free play. I was cracking up. “Don’t talk mami!” Ari commanded in Spanish. “We are in school!”

This brought back memories from when I was a kid. Not only did I enjoy school, but I was on the bossy side, too. I would insist on being the teacher and I would make my friends late for school so I could give them tardy slips.

My husband once cracked, “I am sure your friends liked hanging out with you.” Seriously.

No, but this is the fun part of motherhood. In what ways are your children like you? Do they play some of your favorite childhood games?

It is Chistmas Eve and we are flying to see my folks in New Hampshire -- on the red-eye. Ouch! If there are no delays at our layover in New York JFK tonight (yeah right!), we should arrive in Boston at midnight.

While DH and I have lamented making this trip during, of all times, the holidays, I especially feel grateful for being able to do it. I am making this trip for my grandmother, Mamá, who lives with my parents. She practically raised me and has not met Eli so we have counted together the months for this moment.

While I am looking forward to seeing her coddle Eli and witnessing the look on Ari’s face Christmas morning, I am also heartbroken. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease just last week. Per the doctor’s recommendation, my family has decided not to tell her.

We already suspected that she had the disease as she is very forgetful and has bouts of paranoia related to memory loss. But it still felt like a blow to hear it from the doctor.

And while I was surprised at the doctor’s recommendation not to tell her and feel like I am betraying her, I understand it is not uncommon for some Alzheimer’s patients -- around 50 percent -- to not ever be told they have the disease, according to a health alert by the John Hopkins School of Medicine. Apparently, almost all diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is given to a family member of the patient since he or she could forget what the doctor said.  

Coobert's excellent de-lurking diary inspired me to kick off another "Get To Know Our Readers" thread. I love seeing new names and getting reacquainted with others, so I will start:

I'm Erika, a married, 32-year-old mother to Maya, who is almost 3. I am a newspaper reporter, (very) amateur runner and overall cool chick to know, if I don't say so myself. :-)

I love food and travel and pop culture and family. I am happiest when I am surrounded by my loud, boisterous relatives, eating my mom's unbelievable Mexican cooking. I took to motherhood like a duck to water (surprising EVERYONE...including myself!) and we hope to have another baby in 2008. With all the "practicing" we're doing, let's just say my hubby is a happy camper nowadays...

Elisa is my best friend from our college days at Boston University. Gloria is my aunt! (For the record, she is more like the sister I never had. Too much of a bad influence to be a plain old "aunt." ;-) That's how I fit into the MotherTalkers mosaic.

Oh, and I like to say "SUCK IT!" a lot. I don't know why, it just never fails to make me giggle (hat tip to Tina Fey for that bon mot...)

Even though it is Veterans Day, Ari still has school. His school is on an independent school calendar and not that of the public school system. So Eli and I will find things to do on our own.

In the meantime, I am taking a moment to remember our fallen soldiers in this unfortunate war in Iraq as well as the sacrifices made by our military families.

I am grateful to a couple men who have heavily influenced my life, including my husband who served in the U.S. Army during the first gulf war and my maternal grandfather who had a lifelong career in the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

What does Veterans Day mean to you, MotherTalkers? What are you up to today?