Last Saturday my children gave me truly the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever received: a Mom’s Day Off.
ALL DAY.
[Warning, this post will sound suspiciously of braggin’ on my kids. Considering how often they are used as examples of my motherhood experiments, I feel I owe them one…Read on at your own risk.]
It began with my daughter cleaning her own room top to bottom, adding the aroma of warm vanilla candle, lots of fluffy pillows, and sole control of the remote.
Then breakfast in bed, complete with burnt toast, but with marmalade, and later, a Chloe pbj sandwich special on a tray.
I read, relaxed, wrote in my journal, and in the entire day spent only one hour doing something productive (that made me able to actually read and relax). The kids also included the rule of me not cleaning up, which became an insightful experience as to how often when I am anywhere in the house, even if just for a moment, I am automatically picking up, cleaning up, or wiping up messes.
THIS will be addressed in a later post.
Back to heaven on earth. After lounging, watching Downton Abbey (I have only finished Season 2…I know), and ignoring sounds of arguing upstairs, I then spent time at the temple and came home with Costa Vida and kettle corn looking forward to girl’s time with my girls—part of my desired fun for the day.
Their Mother’s Day gifts touched my heart—my daughter’s printed picture in a frame to share her feelings; my son’s homemade olive wood pen that could go around my neck (as I always lose pens); my younger daughter’s free pedicure and movie coupons with yummy bath stuff; sweet cards and treats and homemade jewelry.
Then Sunday, more tender moments when my oldest daughter—wearing an apron and writing down instructions—hurried in and out of my room to get directions on how to make garlic Alfredo sauce. Which turned out fabulously.
At one point as I felt washed over in love, I couldn’t help but remember Mother’s Days of old, when they were all very young, and energetic, and overwhelmingly difficult, and that this particular day could make me cry (but not the good kind). Now here they were, loving, serving, and letting me enjoy. It really does get better, Virginia.
Meanwhile, to end the current day I gathered my youngest daughters for said girl’s time to watch a show while we all squeezed on the big comforter of the twin bed. As we cuddled and munched, I thought—this truly IS heaven on earth. They have a mother who is rested and ready to be “on call” again, and I get to be with my wonderful non-arguing children (for the moment), just chillin’ and chowin’ together.
Not all Mother’s Day go this well, at least not for me. But for now, I will revel in the moment (STILL reveling), and the knowledge that my children can, for a day, survive a day without me and know how to show appreciation for all their mother does.
Only 364 days until next time…
Best,
Connie
P.S. If you missed my KSL segment on “7 Rituals for Daily Happiness” you can find it here on TV (Click HERE) or here at the KSL Motherhood Matters blog (Click HERE). Enjoy!
P.P.S. If you didn’t get what tickled your toes for Mother’s Day, treat yourself to our Mother’s Day Trio–3 fabulous books for only $25! Get the humorous, the uplifting, and the self-help, all on sale (CLICK)