Dear mothers, we see you

As we celebrate mothers on Sunday, a special hug for those mothers who’ve outlived a child, for mothers who’ve fostered and adopted, the mothers who are raising their children as single parents, the neighborhood moms who heap love on their children’s friends, the stepmothers who embrace a challenging path, the mothers who’ve made the difficult but loving decision to place their child for adoption. We see you all.

Motherhood isn’t one size fits all, the heart of a mother is as big as the sky and deep as the ocean.

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These recent past days have felt more like summer than spring and I’m not complaining. What’s not to love about sunshine, the aroma of freshly cut grass, neighbors out in their yards with smiles and waves, beautiful blossoms on the trees and patio furniture back in place? Boats returning to the lake, pools being opened for the season, it’s a joyful time.

Speaking of which, we opened our backyard un-heated above-ground pool this weekend. It’s covered for the winter and half full of water. The water is sparkling clear and now has been filled to summer level. It was very tempting to take a dip Sunday until I checked the water temperature. 61 degrees! Brrrrrr. Lake Coeur d’Alene water temperature is only in the high 40s and the risk of hypothermia is very real.

Enjoy boating and kayaking but resist the urge to jump in the lake for at least a month or so!

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Happy birthday today to Dusty Flamand, Tamatha Dougal, Kristi Pope, Connie Clark, Steve Eachon, Jeff Rhodes, Meagan Guerreo, Dave Tester and Karen Ouren. Tomorrow, Lisa Aitken, Kris Phillips, Chris Moore, Randy Williams, Ruby Johnson, Pete Shepperd, Kathie Brack, Rob Rinard, Jr., Rena Pruitt, Ramona Kaiser, David Dasher and Phil Pyseky celebrate another year. On Friday, Olivia Backs, Chalee Wallace, Shirley Kincaid, Matt Barkely, Stephie Clinton, Julie Adamchak, Tiffany Teal, Lindsey Sales, Nic Riorden and Jared Raynor do the birthday dance. On Saturday, lifelong family friend Colleen (Cokie) Hough celebrates 97 years, sharing the date with Allan Aitken, Tara Dagastine, Carrie Holdren, Valerie Emery, Bonnie Clark and Carla Noonan. Mother’s Day birthdays for Coltan and Cadan Virgil, Shelly Servick, Don Smock, Shelly Matthews, Pearl Bouchard, David Dickinson, Margie Adams and Zena Baltzell. On Monday, there’s sunshiny birthdays for Anne Hagman, Jason Mealer, Nick Thorpe, Debra Altman, Anthony Skarisky, Stephanie Knox, Chad Todd and Sharon Culbreth. Putting on their party hats Tuesday are Mary Rawlsky, Allison Cook, Lynette Walsh, Bob Hoskins, Jason Penzkover, Craig Zieglerr, Olivia Jacobs, Wyatt Dickinson and Jon Brewer.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected].