Why I Love Mother's Day
In the grand scheme of things, I'm really quite new to Mother's Day. I had no idea how great this holiday was. All those years as a kid when mom would sleep in, or someone else would do the dishes or bring her flowers on Mother's Day never really meant that much to me. It was like, "Eh, that’s great ma. Knock yourself out."
And as a mom, can I just tell you I love this day? I had no idea. It’s almost like we get two birthdays a year or something. My husband is wonderful (well, he’s usually pretty wonderful, I have to say), as I type this there are some beautiful roses on the table that my mother-in-law brought over and I have the sweetest Mother's Day cards on my desk. I feel so loved and so appreciated. I know that my son and husband appreciate me every day — as will the little critter who is kicking me while I type this. (I can’t wait to meet her!) But in addition to all this, there is something so great about strangers saying "Happy Mother's Day" in stores and as they pass us on the street.
For Mother's Day, my husband and sister-in-law took my mother-in-law and me out to dinner. It was really nice. The food was amazing, the happy Mother’s Day wishes from everyone in the restaurant were great and my son was incredibly well behaved. (I always pause and thank heaven when that happens in a restaurant.)
I had this really great moment with the hostess at the restaurant. She brought over these really great wooden blocks for our son to play with when he was done eating. He had the best time stacking them up one by one, and then unstacking them one by one. We were all so pleased with how well he was doing and how much fun he was having.
This lovely woman came over and leaned in my ear, "Isn't this just the best age?"
I answered, "Yes, it’s the best. I’ve actually asked him to stop growing. I don't want this age to end." She nodded with full understanding and proceeded to tell me about her two boys. One is eleven and one is fifteen, but how she still sees them as her little boys. She spoke about how great they are, how different their interests are and how close they are as friends. She looked at me and said, "You know, that's our job. We teach them how to be friends. I’m so proud of them."
While saying this, she put her hand on her chest and sighed as only moms sigh. Then she affectionately ruffled my son's hair and walked away with a dreamy smile. While my kid(s) are still really young, I can only imagine the pride and happiness it must have brought her to realize that her kids are friends with each other. As I watched her walk away from our table it occurred to me that moms can talk to each other any time about our kids and our experiences. We have an instant relatedness that is so unique and so much fun. Only moms stop and have conversations like that in the middle of a restaurant.
In addition to this great experience, I came home and jumped on Facebook. (I can’t help it, I’m an addict, I admit it.) And I saw this post from an elementary school friend, Tiffani, to her mother:
Dear Mom...as I change my 3rd spit-on shirt, rock a coughing two-year old, nurse / pump, nurse / pump, and gaze in wonder at that contraption in my bathroom that shoots water for cleanliness, I am eternally grateful for your love, support, and lessons learned. Including how to spot a good man who makes a wonderful father. I love you so very much and wish you the Happiest Mother's Day. Love, Tiff
Tiffani has a very newborn baby, her second child, something that’s really been on my mind lately. I think we forget how lonely and hard those first few weeks can be. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great private moments of warmth and amazement, but it’s a tough time. And I think it’s exactly the moments that Tiffani describes here, that make the celebration of Mother’s Day so meaningful.
I thought it was such a great way to end my Mother’s Day. I got to spend time with my family, I was blown away by my husband and his parenting, I got to watch my son play with blocks during dinner, I bonded with a woman I didn’t know at a restaurant over the pride of motherhood, and then I got to pause, and tear up a little, as I read those simple words from one mom to her mom. There are some things that you can only appreciate as a mother. And I’m so grateful to be able to watch life from this perspective.
Happy Mother's Day
Author: Sarah
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