I am off to Vancouver this morning. Flying away to do one of my very favouritest things in the whole wide world. See one of my daughters perform.

Growing up, they were both dancers. Sitting in a darkened room, sitting amidst other mothers and fathers and family members and friends watching our children perform is one of the very best places to be!

Growing up, Liseanne danced. And oh, how she danced. Fluid as a swan, as lithe as a dolphin flowing through the water, she moved across the stage. Whether she was in the chorus or centre stage, it didn’t matter. She was captivating. And ok. Just to be clear. You know she should have been centre stage always. Right? You know she was the best one up there. Ok?  Just kidding. (not really) But…. it really didn’t matter where she was on stage. I could not take my eyes off of her. And while it was about ‘the performance’, it wasn’t really. It was more about seeing her dance with such confidence, grace, joy. It was knowing she was on that stage doing what she loved that really touched my heart and gave my spirit wings.

Alexis was also a dancer but, as they call it in the biz, she was/is a ‘triple-threat’. Along with dancing, she acts and sings and tonight, for the first time in a long time, she is performing publicly. Life, in all its ups and downs and fears and tribulations has held her back from doing the thing she loves the most — giving voice to the angel within her. Because Alexis truly does sing like an angel. Clear. Passionate. Strong. Her voice echoes.

And I am excited.

I will sit in a darkened room amidst a roomful of people gathered to raise funds for one of our Canadian Olympic teams and I will be there to support her, to hear her, to see her shine. What joy!

It was in thinking of my excitement about going to hear her sing that I realized that what has made the greatest difference in my life is this thing called — being a mother. It has made me different. It has stretched me. Broken me. Built me up. It has challenged me, defied me, confused me, held me together and healed me. Not only has it made me different, inside, deep within my heart, it has been my greatest difference. Out of all the things I’ve done, all the articles I’ve written, paintings I’ve painted, stories I’ve told, lives I’ve touched, being a mother has created a difference in the world, because through me, two amazing women are out there, confident, radiant, kind, caring, compassionate, doing things to create a better world today and tomorrow.

Being a mother makes a difference in the world because, in giving our children life, giving them courage to be all they are, giving them the place to learn to be themsleves, to dance, to perform, to sing, to run, to laugh, to play, to kick-balls, ride bikes, fall down, get back up, turn cartwheels, turn upside down and rightside out and inside in, we play a vital role in expanding their capacity to make a difference in the world.

It is a difference that multiplies outward into the universe with every day. And in its multiplying effect, the world is better for their presence.

I have done many things in this world, some small, some big, some simply indifferent. But there is one thing that will never change — I have created Love. I have brought Love into this world through expanding that which I know to be true — Love is infinite and the capacity of our children to grow Love is an infinite circle of possibility radiating out from the core of our being, their parents.

I am off to hear my daughter sing today.

I am joyful.