Am I a Mother’s Day Grinch? Not Really
My Mom
It’s Mother’s Day 2024. I’ve been lucky enough to celebrate 44 mother’s days as a mom. I celebrated thirty Mother’s Days as a daughter. I confess to not being a huge fan of the occasion and even went so far as to include a subchapter in my book entitled, “Let’s Abolish Mother’s Day”. Now don’t start throwing things my way just yet. Hear me out. Mother’s Day is rampant with expectations. Just as Charlie Brown vows not to get tricked once again by Lucy moving the football, we get tricked into thinking each year will be different. We head into Mother’s Day hoping that the kids will remember the day–the second Sunday of May (although aren’t we entitled to a designated date, so we don’t leave this to chance?!) (2) at least one of them will plan a gathering, including food where we can relax and spend time together; (3) the Happy Mother’s Day call will be the first one they make that day; (4) maybe the ding-dong of the doorbell will usher in a bouquet of blooms from our babies; (5) they will understand how the postal service works and our card or package will arrive in a timely fashion.
And expectations go both ways. There is a great deal of pressure on moms to react with sufficient enthusiastic appreciation for our kids’ demonstrations of appreciation on Mother’s Day. Opening gifts should be accompanied by appropriate levels of squealing, wide-mouthed smiles, kissing, and hugging. One year my father bought my mother ice trays and an electric can opener for Mother’s Day gifts. My mother failed the appreciation test by locking herself in her room for the remainder of the day.
Gosh, I know this sounds like I’m a Mother’s Day version of the grinch. In fact, I’ve really had a lovely Mother’s Day month. My daughter and her fiancé visited last weekend, and I will be seeing them again next weekend in Louisville. One of the greatest Mother’s Day presents I’ve ever received is seeing my daughter so happy and in love with a wonderful man.
Such Joy in our family
I told her she gave me a new son-in-law for Mother’s Day this year. Mother’s Day often coincides with my husband’s birthday, and we spent a lovely day last week celebrating with our son, daughter-in-law, and precious grandson.
So Much love
David and his family Facetimed with me for an hour this morning and I got to bear witness to their wonderful family life. Although when I asked Ru what he got Mommy for Mother’s Day he replied, “I don’t know what Dad got her, but I got a Lego Star Wars Mandalorian Battle Pack. As we were talking, Maya’s American Girl doll skated across the kitchen table in her new rainbow shirt and rollerblades. I’m just saying…Mother’s Day is not usually about us.
I guess one of the truths about moms is that they are really good at deriving joy from others’ joy. So, Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who help to mother others. Since I lost my own mom at a relatively young age, I know I’ve snuggled up to a number of fabulous women who have helped nurture me through some emotionally fraught times.
And I can’t forget to mention the gift of this puppy on her very first Mother’s Day