I’ve never been a big fan of the holidays that seem to have been created by greeting card companies. That all changed when I became a momma and realized I better cash in on the opportunity to have one day a year honouring me. What I like about this day is that I feel entitled to a rest, even if it doesn’t actually happen. Knowing I can pull Mother’s Day rank is powerful. Today my family managed to only once hear: “hey! whose day is this anyways??”
I always joke that the night before Mother’s Day, I put the recycling box under my bed. My crafts then won’t have too far to travel after presentation with my breakfast in bed (read: cold tea and soggy cereal). With each child averaging three crafts per Mother’s Day, I end up with a fair bit of recycling. A friend suggested that craft etiquette is to let the stuff hang around for a week or so before hitting the blue bin, so I have taken that under advisement.
After wrapping up the breakfast in bed festivities, I loaded kiddos on bikes, scooters, and double stroller and set off for the park (the far-away park). Along the way I was greeted by shouts of “I’m sure one day you will have a very restful Mother’s Day!” I would give a friendly wave and carry on. When I arrived at the park, I met a Dad there with his daughter. He asked “which of these children are not yours?” I paused….such a strange way of asking the question. Most would say “are they all yours?” I responded “uh, none….none are not mine” (ask a strange question, get a strange response). He replied “I was afraid you were going to say that”.
Afraid? Afraid of what? I wondered if I should be offended, but quickly forgave him when I noticed his daughter had a Mabel’s Label on her soccer ball (yeah, I recover easily).
Mother’s Day is now done and dusted for another year. Regardless of what ends up in the recycling, the looks on those little faces as they present their finger paintings and cheezy poems is priceless. I loved every sip of that weak cold tea. And while my five little people may scare Dads in the park, I know I have nothing to be “afraid” of at all.
RSS
I had my breakfast in bed with a sick 3-year-old beside me… and then she threw up all over me and my bed, so I spent the day doing laundry, administering meds, and standing with sick bowl ready.
I can laugh it off because there’s nothing in the world that makes me feel more fulfilled… not my business, my husband, my posessions… than my “gaggle of girls”!
I love your blog… very witty!
Lis Lannin
Happy belated Mother’s Day! Yours sounded wonderful!