From the moment I entered this world, I carried within me a gift; an incredible potential for caregiving and nurturing.  I would think, looking back at my childhood, my lack of experiencing a nurturing environment would have led me to repeat the same lack in the lives of my own children.  I have had to work to understand that nights are not suppose to be spent sitting in front of a tv with a TV dinner.  Does anyone remember those tv dinners that came with the tiny brownie stashed in a small side section?  Those were my favorite.  When my late husband was courting me, he expressed his contentment with not having more children, as he already had one from a previous relationship. I emphatically told him that every aspect of my being seemed purposefully designed to embrace the role of mothering. Despite what I lacked in my own life, I had a deep understanding that my purpose in life was to embrace the role of a mother.  Whether that was to be a mom to biological, adopted or previously loved children.  I was designed for the purpose of nurturing; my emotional sensitivity, my physiological adaptations and my cognitive development, every aspect of my existence supports my innate capacity for caregiving.   With three kids of my own now, nights are spent eating food together, at a table.  It is a gift for me to find ways to feed them, gather them together, listen to them, ask them questions, and be present.  I recognized the traits that were ingrained in me from a harsh environment, I worked hard to gain an understanding of creating good in family connections, and I triumphed over my past.   For me, Mother's Day is about assessing where I came from and how much freedom I have to provide care and nurture all that is true, good and beautiful in my own children and all those who I come in contact with.