there is much to learn about mothering, she said - you will need to give beyond your limits, yet not give yourself away. you will need to soothe and calm, even when peace eludes you. you will be required to believe without any doubts when others shake their heads and sigh. to trust your instincts, and follow your heart, digging into depths that you never even knew were there. you will need to give your all, and then let go. encouraging their growth, cheering their flight, all the while watching pieces of yourself fly away. and when it's over, your job turns to you. and offering all that you've learned to yourself. it will be time to mother you.