Chapstick: A Mother’s Day Story

My Mother, Shirley, at 19-years-old (1941) 

In honor of Mother’s Day and everyone working with small children, I present the following story––my favorite Mother’s Day story ever! This was an actual letter read by Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen Show on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.  It was a letter submitted by a viewer for a Mother’s Day contest about “mothering moments” and confessions.

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We had this great 10-year-old cat named, Jack, who recently died. Jack was a great cat, and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on the mat in our bathroom.

We have three kids, and at the time of this story, they were four years old, three years old, and one year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loved ChapStick. LOVED it! He kept asking to use my ChapStick and then would lose it. Finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my ChapStick and explained he could use it whenever he wanted to, but he needed to put it right back in the drawer after he finished.

That year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around, trying to get ready for church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys were fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I was trying to nurse my little one at the same time I was putting on my make-up. Everything was a mess, and everyone had long forgotten that this was a wonderful day to honor me, and the amazing job that is called, “Motherhood.”

We finally had the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I was looking for Eli. I searched everywhere and I finally went into the bathroom. There was Eli. He was applying my ChapStick very carefully to Jack's ... rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes and said, “Chapped.” 

Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right—their little bottoms DO look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind. The only question to ask at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth!!?

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever—because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your ChapStick on the cat's butt! ~ Author Unknown

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“Some of my greatest blessings call me mommy!” ~ Author Unknown 

“The noblest calling in the world is that of mother. True Motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece or who can write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will be exerting an influence throughout the ages long after painting shall have faded, and books and statues shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give.” ~ President David O. McKay 

“There's a story behind everything . . . How a picture got on a wall . . . How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother's story because hers is where yours begins.” ~ Mitch Albom, For One More Day 

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” ~ Abraham Lincoln 


“Mothers need not fear. When mothers know ‘who they are’ and ‘who God is’ and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.” ~ Julie Beck (General Conference, October 2007)