Magnum Opus: Happy Mother’s Day


HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, all you moms, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, god-mothers, and lovers of little ones!!
Me and Little LMommy Kissing Little L

My husband captured this sweet moment with my littlest a few weeks ago. For Mother’s Day, I’d like to repost a tiny piece I wrote over a year ago, and in fact it was only the second post on this blog. Since I had about one reader at the time, you probably didn’t notice this:

“Are you awake, Charlotte?” he said softly.
“Yes,” came the answer.
“What is that nifty little thing? Did you make it?”
“I did indeed,” replied Charlotte in a weak voice.
“Is it a plaything?”
“Plaything? I should say not. It is my egg sac, my magnum opus.”
“I don’t know what a magnum opus is,” said Wilbur.
“That’s Latin,” explained Charlotte. “It means ‘great work.’ This egg sac is my great work — the finest thing I have ever made.”
“What’s inside it?” asked Wilbur. “Eggs?”
“Five hundred and fourteen of them,” she replied.
from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

These are some of the greatest lines of literature I’ve read on the subject of motherhood and parenting. Now, I just have four, not 514, but those four are absolutely the finest things I have ever made. I couldn’t state my calling any better than Charlotte, and her words are more inspiring than any parenting book I’ve read.

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17 Responses

  1. Heather Young May 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    Have a blessed Mother’s Day. :) I have always LOVED that bit , in fact it is what made Charlotte’s Web for me. A brilliant bit on motherhood.

  2. Jen May 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Heather, I never noticed that part until after I had kids. I had borrowed the book on tape from the library, and the kids were listening to it one night before bed. I heard this section and was like, WOW! That is the coolest bit of writing, and so poignant and true.

  3. Sheila May 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    You’re the only other person I’ve heard draw the beauty about Motherhood out of that line from Charolette’s Web. I always point it out to my kids, and every time I’ve heard it, I always tear up!

    Happy Mother’s Day to you and your Magnum Opus! :)
    Sheila

  4. smallworld May 10th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    What a sweet post and beautiful pics. Guess what? I have your box all ready to mail! In fact, I even had it on the table to drop by the P.O. today on the way to the Farmers’ Market!! I sure did, all ready on the table. Same place as it was when we got home….

  5. MooBeeMa May 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    Bravo! Encore! Encore!

  6. Jen May 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    Sheila, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this dialogue in those lists of “Motherhood” quotes, but it really should be included!

    SmallWorld, how funny! Well, the anticipation grows. :-) I actually am late sending out a package myself.

    MooBeeMa, I just did a little curtsy for you. :-)

  7. Renae May 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    The pictures are beautiful! What a precious treasure! Have a blessed Mother’s Day.

  8. Jane May 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    LOVE those pics, LOVE Charlotte’s Web, LOVE that quote! Happy Mother’s Day!

  9. grace May 11th, 2008 at 4:58 am

    Happy Mom’s Day, Jen. I salute you for raising 4 lovely kids and raising them well. I only have one and I am losing my mind..you however, do your mothering very gracefully and lovingly of course.

  10. Anne May 11th, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Happy Mother’s Day

  11. Heather Young May 11th, 2008 at 7:12 am

    Just stopping by to say have a blessed Mother’s Day.

  12. Jen May 11th, 2008 at 7:54 am

    Grace, do not let me fool you. I’m losing my mind just as much as you. :-) It’s only the grace of God that gets me through each day. Happy Mother’s Day.

    Renae, Jane, Anne, Heather, I hope you have a special day.

  13. e-Mom May 11th, 2008 at 10:26 am

    The perfect quote! I’d forgotten that one, but I do remember being totally touched when I first read it!
    Precious photos too.

    Have a wonderful Mother’s Day Jennifer. :~D

  14. JHS May 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Thanks for participating in this week’s Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Write from Karen! Be sure to stop by on Monday, May 12, 2008, and peruse the other wonderful articles included in this week’s edition!

  15. Tipper May 11th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Precious pictures! And I agree Charlotte sums it up for me too!

  16. mrs darling May 12th, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Awww this is precious!

  17. Peculiar May 13th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    I know it’s a few days late to be replying on this post, but I just love the quote from Charlotte’s Web you used. It’s so perfect! I had a great Mother’s Day and hope you did too!! I always enjoy stopping by your blog. keep up the good work.

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