It's the night before Mother's Day and here I am, hoping to come up with something meaningful and funny about motherhood. I meant to write this earlier in the week--not sure when exactly--but I was doing other mother-y stuff: school drop-off, washing clothes, cooking meals, chaperoning field trips, sweeping up cereal and running around like a madwoman.
I'd like to write something sentimental about motherhood and how it's all about happy giggling kids or the omnipotence of being able to cure my kids' ouchies with a single kiss. I could write something about how tough motherhood is and how exhausting I find it sometimes. I could say motherhood is a gift and an honor--which it is--but not today.
What I will say instead is that Mother's Day is important. Sure, every greeting card company is sticking their nose into Mother's Day, but everyone should be reminded to pay tribute to their mothers and mother figures. Why? Because getting praise for a job well done as a mother is a rarity but it keeps mothers going on the bad days. Getting pampered (or just being able to sleep in) is relaxing and invigorating at the same time. Seeing love and appreciation in writing and on shiny faces is priceless.
I cherish the fact that on this day, someone else is thinking enough of me to buy (or make) me a card and give me a little chocolate and an extra hug. I like that maybe, just maybe, I can get a little more time than usual without two sets of little hands tugging at my shirt or two little mouths trying to eat my food.
Mother's Day also gives me an excuse to get together with my sister and my mother despite our busy schedules. I also get to acknowledge a favorite teacher, my sister-in-law who is a terrific aunt, and my honorary grandmother from my childhood--the only grandmother-figure I had in the U.S. growing up. I think fondly of my sister-in-law and sisters who are mothers, especially my twin sister who has only been a mother for five months, but is already mastering it solo. I get to toast my mother-in-law for entrusting me with her son and grandchildren, with nary a negative word about my parenting style.
I'm grateful to all the mothers and honorary mothers in my life on a daily basis, but Mother's Day gives me a chance to express that gratitude out loud. And, even though I know, in my heart, that my children love me and that my husband appreciates me, I like that, for one day, they confirm it out loud to me. That makes me a happy mother on this day, and I'm thankful.
I'd like to write something sentimental about motherhood and how it's all about happy giggling kids or the omnipotence of being able to cure my kids' ouchies with a single kiss. I could write something about how tough motherhood is and how exhausting I find it sometimes. I could say motherhood is a gift and an honor--which it is--but not today.
What I will say instead is that Mother's Day is important. Sure, every greeting card company is sticking their nose into Mother's Day, but everyone should be reminded to pay tribute to their mothers and mother figures. Why? Because getting praise for a job well done as a mother is a rarity but it keeps mothers going on the bad days. Getting pampered (or just being able to sleep in) is relaxing and invigorating at the same time. Seeing love and appreciation in writing and on shiny faces is priceless.
I cherish the fact that on this day, someone else is thinking enough of me to buy (or make) me a card and give me a little chocolate and an extra hug. I like that maybe, just maybe, I can get a little more time than usual without two sets of little hands tugging at my shirt or two little mouths trying to eat my food.
Mother's Day also gives me an excuse to get together with my sister and my mother despite our busy schedules. I also get to acknowledge a favorite teacher, my sister-in-law who is a terrific aunt, and my honorary grandmother from my childhood--the only grandmother-figure I had in the U.S. growing up. I think fondly of my sister-in-law and sisters who are mothers, especially my twin sister who has only been a mother for five months, but is already mastering it solo. I get to toast my mother-in-law for entrusting me with her son and grandchildren, with nary a negative word about my parenting style.
I'm grateful to all the mothers and honorary mothers in my life on a daily basis, but Mother's Day gives me a chance to express that gratitude out loud. And, even though I know, in my heart, that my children love me and that my husband appreciates me, I like that, for one day, they confirm it out loud to me. That makes me a happy mother on this day, and I'm thankful.
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