Celebrate Like a Mother

I’m pretty new to being an honoree on Mother’s Day.

 

I spent over 30 years celebrating my own mother and, over the years, it evolved from breakfasts in bed to fancy brunches.  

Sometimes we planted flowers or went to the beach, but whatever we did to celebrate was usually an entire day of love and family togetherness.  

I’m sure my mom thoroughly enjoyed eating burnt toast, hearing us bicker about who got to sit in the “way back”, and, later, who was paying for all those bottomless mimosas. 

 

When it came time to celebrate my first Mother’s Day as a Stay At Home Mom I knew there was only one thing I wanted – to be alone!  

I was home full time with a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old and I just wanted some time to do what I wanted to do for a few blissful hours without interruption.  

I would go to breakfast with my mom, husband, and boys, and then have an afternoon to myself.  It was going to be the Mother’s Day of my dreams!

 

When I told my mom friends about this I got mixed reactions.  Some were jealous, some were confused, and many thought I was being too selfish.  

After careful consideration, I realized I had to do what felt right to me.  Wasn’t this MY holiday?  

How many times had I heard moms complain about all the things they HAD to do on what was supposed to be their special day?  

 

When the day came I spent the morning at breakfast with my two little monsters and my mom.  We had a great time.  We even spent time together buying flowers to plant later that week.  

Then my husband took the boys to see his mother.  I was alone for three quiet, blissful hours and I did not regret one second.  

It reminded me that I need to take time for myself to be a better mom and I now take that time throughout the year.  

I take sewing classes.  Sometimes when my husband gets home I take 30 minutes to hide in our bedroom and read.  

I occasionally go grocery shopping at 8 pm on a Monday night just so I can get some peace and quiet.

 

I also have learned to celebrate my mom friends.  

I couldn’t do this job without them and I hope that they know they can count on me as much as I count on them.  

I recently received a thoughtful card from a good friend that reminded me that what I do every day is appreciated and important, even if I’m not the best at it.  

It made my day and I plan to pay that feeling forward by sending some thoughtful text messages and phone calls to some ladies who have made my journey as a mom so much easier, and definitely more fun.

 

So, this Sunday, celebrate how you want to celebrate? 

Bask in the macaroni necklaces, the handmade cards, the jelly-faced smooches and the tissue paper flowers.  

Take time for you.  Go to the bathroom by yourself, take a morning yoga class, or let your husband do the thing you hate doing (for me, it’s the toothbrushing routine.  

That has got to be some kind of karmic torture device!).  Take time to thank another mom who has helped you in some way.  

Big or small, those gestures remind us why she took this crazy job in the first place.