May there always be mama

This morning the pre-kindergarten hosted a Mother’s Day Tea. In related news, I am a complete emotional mess. The kids were so cute, serving up fruit salad and cotton-ball-decorated cards, and sang the following tear-inducing song: “May there always be sunshine, may there always be blue skies, may there always be mama, may there always be me.” I cried a little just typing that, so you can imagine the verklempt, grimace-y, trying-not-to-hysterically-sob face I made through the remainder of the tea. Pretty!

It seems trendy this year to discuss why Mother’s Day sucks: it’s a busy day trying to please mothers, mothers-in-law, and selves; husbands say things like “You’re not MY mother”; moms just want to feel appreciated, dammit, so where is my breakfast in bed? One writer discussed how she should get TWO gifts, one from husband and one from child, and they had better be worthwhile, buddy, because she carried the baby for nine months and lost her fabulous figure in the process – her t&a has never returned to their former glory, so bring on the jewellery and spa trips. And while I understand, to some extent – mothers frequently do feel or actually are underappreciated, it would be nice to have a day where everyone else picks up the drudge-related slack, it is very difficult to juggle family obligations, gifts certainly are lovely – I also feel these sorts of complaints are just categorically wrong.

This morning during school drop-off, a little boy in Mark’s class tripped and fell – not hard, he wasn’t hurt – and began sobbing loudly and dramatically. This little boy lost his mother several months ago, before he was even five years old. I picked him up and hugged and kissed him and he was instantly, miraculously FINE. This little boy is going to spend the weekend, Mother’s Day weekend, without his mother. Last year she celebrated Mother’s Day not knowing it was her last one.

If you have to make your own breakfast, rather than being served it in bed, it is really not that bad.

Comments

  1. My hubby is a shift worker. I will spend the day like I do every day, wiping noses, breaking up fights and listening to non-stop singing.
    Just writing that is making me teary because it will be my last day of normal for a long time and it is going to be a very good mother’s day because of that.

  2. I got goosebumps reading this. You’e right- we need to look at the big picture.

  3. WELL said. Let’s all hug somone without out a Mom for Mothers Day!

  4. Tearing up with you. HUGS

    Happy Mother’s Day!

  5. This has to be one of my favourite posts, really puts things in perspective. Thanks for continuing to write!

  6. So so well said. I couldn’t agree more. Big picture, people, big picture,

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