Unconditional Love

By MaryEllen Tribby

Happy Mother’s Day to every mom, everywhere!

A very special Happy Working Moms Day to all in the Working Moms Only community. For the joyous responsibility you embark on every day of raising a family and nurturing a career, this issue is in honor of you!

I have been thinking a lot lately about what being a mom means to me. Maybe because we are enrolling our youngest child Delanie in kindergarten and it gives me a total sense of bliss that she is excited by this new phase in her life, not scared. Or because I stand in amazement of my 11-year-old daughter Mikaela while reading her latest school report about her real life idol. Or because my sweet 9-year–old Connor is asking more questions about the world and how he can help make it a better place for less fortunate kids.

It makes me realize how much respect and admiration I have for these children. The time I spend watching my kids in action is my greatest pleasure. Out of all my accomplishments, these kids are the source of my proudest moments.

Of course as a mom I have days when I feel disappointment, fear, anger, and sadness when one of my children behaves or acts in a certain way.

But the one feeling that is constant, the only feeling that is with me every minute of every day, is the unconditional love that I hold in my heart and soul for these kids. This is a gift given to me by each one of my kids. They taught me that unconditional love not only exists but also is the reason I exist.

Hence, the title of my new book - Unconditional Love: A Collection of Poetry Gifted by the Working Moms Only Community.

And it’s not just my new book; it’s OUR new book. That’s right: I would like you to contribute to this book.

I would like to publish the most exquisite collaboration of poetry ever produced by working moms. And we have the perfect community to make it happen!

Here’s my promise to you:

• 100% of the proceeds generated from selling this book will go to my charity The Good News Kids. This book will serve as our inaugural fundraiser to eliminate homelessness among children.
• Everyone who submits a poem will receive a free digital copy of the book.
• The Working Moms Only team will vote on the best poem and the winning poem will appear in a future issue of the newsletter. The winner will also receive a FREE 30-minute phone business consultation with me. I have no doubt that picking a winner will be extremely difficult!

Here’s what you need to know to get involved:

• Submit your poem to poems@workingmomsonly.com.
• One submission per person.
• Your poem may be up to but may not exceed 1,000 words.
• Your poem may also include a 50-word editorial note about you and/or your business. You may include a website address.
• The topic is Unconditional Love and what that means to you in regards to your child/children.
• We reserve the right to edit your poem.
• No profanity or derogatory remarks are permitted.
• By submitting a poem, you are consenting that your poem may be printed in the book and any or all of the poem may be used for promotional purposes. And you understand that there will be NO compensation at any time.
• All poems must be received by June 1, 2010 to be eligible for the book.

So what are you waiting for? Get writing!

Look into your beautiful teenager’s eyes… Breathe in the smell on the top of your newborn’s head… Tickle your toddler. Find some inspiration and start writing. This is your opportunity to express the love you feel for your child and not only preserve it forever in print, but use that love to help house children who are less fortunate than your own.

Thank you for participating and making a difference to children all around the world.

Before I sign off I would like to take a moment to publicly thank the working moms who have made a difference in my life. I have known many of these moms for years; some I’ve met only recently. But no matter how long I’ve known them, each of these women has taught me something along the way. These moms live all over the world; they come from very different economic and social backgrounds; they have diverse skill sets. But the one thing all these moms have in common is that I have learned from them. They have all been an inspiration to me – inspired me to be the best mom I can be!

To Jodi Ahlers, Jen Clement, Connie Tribby, Joyce Bone, Ellie Drake, Mariel Hemingway, Marie Forleo, Ann Devere, Stacey McCarthy, Laura Day, Kristi Frank, Carline Anglade-Cole, Julie McManus, Denise Gosnell, Kim Castle, Andrea Warner, Wendy Montes de Oca, Tracey Butz, Sandy Franks, Kara Mohr, Wendy Makepeace, Jackie Stone, Liz Kramer, Sandi Krakowski, Deb Pilgram, Daryl Grant, Sue Mathison, Roe Teed, Mindy Tyson, Allison Gilchrist, Tatyana Gann, Maureen Tribby, Palma DeSanto, Susan Preston, Tina Franks, Suzanne Gerety, Mollie Marti, Lisa Bruette, Alisa Padget, Cindy Tribby, Deb Englander, LuAn Mitchell, Kristin Morelli, Paula Knight, Patty Gale, Erica Rueschoff, Vicki Reece, Carrie Wilkerson, Lucia Brown, Joanne Romus, Mary Tribby and Ellen Petrone:

I could never fully express my gratitude for everything I’ve learned from you and everything you’ve done for me. Thank you and happy Mother’s Day!