Our fondest memories of mothers spring from childhood. In those life-forming years, mom serves as the center of our universe, supplying us with the essentials of existence: food, clothing, shelter, discipline, purpose and -- most important of all -- love.

Because of mothers' important role in shaping young lives, it is no wonder that children come up with pearls of wisdom when describing their moms. This is shown by second graders' answers to the following questions. I picked them up from a column written by Mark Bliss of the Southeast Missourian in Cape Girardeau, Mo. As is so often the case these days, Mark received the information from a friend via e-mail.

Here are the questions and the second graders' responses:

* Why did God make mothers?

She is the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is. Mostly to clean the house. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

* How did God make mothers?

He used dirt, just like the rest of us. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. God made my Mom just like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

* What ingredients are mothers made of?

God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

* Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

We're related. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

* What kind of little girl was your mom?

I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. They say she used to be nice!

* What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

His last name. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say no to drugs and yes to chores?

* Why did your mom marry your dad?

My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot. She got too old to do anything else with him. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

* What's the difference between moms and dads?

Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just go to work at work. Moms know how to talk with teachers without scaring them. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power because that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep at your friend's. Moms have magic. They make you feel better without medicine.

* What does your mom do in her spare time?

Mothers don't do spare time. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all the time.

* What would it take to make your mom perfect?

On the inside, she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. Diet, you know, her hair.

* If you could change one thing about your mom what would it be?

She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.

I'd get rid of that. I'd make my mom smarter so she would know it was my sister who did it and not me. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

*

Amazing, isn't it? Wisdom flows spontaneously from the youngest among us. And, in their natural way, the little ones speak for children of all ages.

What we are trying to say in our different ways is that we owe so much to you, Mom. You are the source of our strength.

You are the inspiration for our love. We thank you for helping us out when we were getting born and on all the other days of our lives, too.