Becoming a mother expanded the boundaries of my heart.

Before motherhood, life was pretty much "Me, Myself, and I." Then when I got married it was "Me, Myself, I--and him." My life was no longer just my own because my hopes and dreams intertwined with my husband's

Then came children--four to be exact. As I opened my arms to hold each child, I also opened my heart to their hearts.

Being a mother means that when my child hurts, I hurt too. When my child is over-the-moon happy, I am right there over-the-moon too.

When I found myself unexpectedly pregnant at 41, I wondered if I could do it again--if I could open my heart to the heart-aches and the  heart-joys of mothering another child.

Of course I did.

I am a mom--and that's what a mom does. When my child needs a shoulder to cry on, I offer mine, along with a big box of kleenex. When my child needs a cheerleader, I shout louder than anyone else. When my child works hard and succeeds, I say, "Bravo!"

People say that mothering is about disciplining or it's about teaching a child the basics of life, like using the potty and eating with a fork and sharing toys with other children.

Let's get to the heart of the matter when it comes to mothering: It's all about loving our children, come what may.

That's why we do all the things we do for our children--it's a mother's love lived out day-to-day. Yes, some days I just don't want to do it all again. But I do because rocking a child or reading to a child or disciplining a child or helping a child with homework or driving a child to music lessons...it's just mom-speak for "I love you."