A toast to motherhood

Reader Carolyn Mandelino lives in Massapequa.

They say you never really appreciate anything until you experience it for yourself. Well, I found that to be true about motherhood.

After a difficult year of fertility treatments, I was blessed with twins at age 42. They are now 3 1/2 and as blessed as I feel, I feel equally as tired. Oh, it's a labor of love indeed -- but it's still a labor.

My children, my house and garden are all beautiful -- me, however, not so much. I feel and look more like a warrior than a mother. My hair roots are overdue for touch-ups, my nose is swollen from my son accidentally head-butting me yesterday, and this morning I broke two nails, and my daughter, swinging her toys around, slightly chipped two of my front teeth -- but luckily I evened out the nails and teeth with a nail file.

I probably feel worse for my spouse, who is begging me to buy some new sweat outfits for myself because, quite frankly, my current ones have had their day. My high heels are collecting dust in the closet, and I'm wearing a hole in my slip-on sneakers. Incidentally, I'm writing this with a broken crayon after chasing my son around for the pen he stole from me three times, all while my daughter is flushing the first copy down the toilet.

Oh, the sacrifices we make for our children. Last fall, everyone in the family got the swine flu -- except me. But after two weeks of worry and losing sleep, I was exhausted. There's an endless array of runny noses, fevers, tummy aches, boo-boos, whining, colossal messes and temper tantrums. Did I mention whining?

Oh, yes I did. Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet. I haven't been able to enjoy a cup in weeks. My spouse pours me one every morning, but my children made demands and the coffee inevitably gets cold and dumped by midafternoon.

To get through difficult days, I recall mother's favorite sayings -- "Patience is a virtue," and "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." My mother, who raised four children, including my twin brother and me, often humbles me by saying she did it "with your dad working all the time." Yes, Mother, I believe you most certainly earned your medal of honor!

My own goals in life have changed from wanting to put on an art exhibit and star in a Shakespearean play to hoping I'm not completely wiped out, toothless and gray before the twins hit kindergarten.

Is it all worth it? Without a doubt. Especially when my children whisper "I love you" in my ear every night. They are still scrumptious and adorable no matter what, and I wouldn't change a thing. Except maybe to borrow Brad and Angelina's nannies for a week -- make that a year!

So, hear, hear! I propose a toast -- with my cold coffee in one hand and patting myself on the back with the other -- in honor of all us mothers doing our best for our families every day!

Three cheers to us! I think this Mother's Day I'll redeem that spa gift certificate I received three years ago. And I'll show up with my brand new sweat outfit and sneakers with the biggest, hottest chocolate latte you've ever seen!

"Happy Mother's Day!"