HAPPY belated Mother’s Day, friends!
Whether you were celebrating being a mom or having a mom or both, I hope you were able to embrace the holiday in some special way. As always, I grieved for those who have had to endure loss, infertility, or broken relationships with moms or children. This holiday brings with it, much sadness too- for many. I’m heartbroken for so many people I know and love, and those I don’t too.
As for my Mother’s Day, it was filled with most every day things, like laundry and household chores- because I’m still a mom on Mother’s Day. Yeah. I always long to have a TRUE day off on this holiday, but that probably won’t happen until the kids are on their own. It’s okay. It was still special in small ways and some big! Husband invested in a new computer for me because my gosh, mine was driving me CRAZY. It’s old and freezes a lot and he was tired of hearing me swear at it every day all day long. I was too, so there’s that. 🙂 My favorite thing about him is the cards he so carefully chooses for me because he knows my love language is WORDS of encouragement. (Surprise there.) His Mother’s Day card did not disappoint. Love that guy.
As for my kids? My teen girl asked if she could borrow money to buy canvas at JoAnne’s the night before, then spent two hours in her room to paint me a sweet gift. Last minute? Yep. But I’ll take it. And she owes me money. As for my 12-year-old boy, well apparently, he didn’t know it was Mother’s Day. Huh. So he mowed the lawn and claimed it as my gift. Then helped hubs clean my car out and thought he was the most generous kid in town. Again, I’ll take it.
The key to every good Mother’s Day is to have incredibly low expectations.
Often, you’ll be delightfully surprised.
What I’ve learned through the years of being a mom, is there is such a simple way to make me happy. It’s this one thing I ask of my kids EVERY day, not just on Mother’s Day.
I think it’s what every what every mother wants from her kids after Mother’s Day.
So for moms who have kids old enough to have manners, I have a little letter I wrote to my kids that might resonate with you as well.
I actually have really great kids. I’m grateful for that. Truly.
But I’d like more of one thing. I bet you do too.
GO HERE to read my letter about what every mom wants from her kids after Mother’s Day. My letter is on Moms of Tweens and Teens., a site I’ve grown to love, and I bet you will too:
Happy belated momma’s day, Chris! How sweet your kids are to do those things and I laughed out loud about son being a bit clueless. Your hubs sure did all the right stuff, too. It’s so important and surprising how many husbands don’t handle this right. My ex (sorry to bring him up) would not even buy a card and would say, you’re not my mother. UGH. Mother’s day has some bad memories for me but luckily I’m making new, loving memories and my kids are also very considerate about cards.
I’m hopping over because I want to know what every mom wants after mother’s day (from her kids)!
Lisa, I don’t like your X. How horrible that he couldn’t even appreciate all you did as a mom to his kids. Just awful. I’m so sorry you didn’t get the respect and support you deserved.
I’m so glad your kids get it. <3
Going now. And I’d totally take a car wash as a gift.
I literally wait for it every year… lol. 🙂
I have adult children and two of them helped me clean the yard and garage on Mother’s Day! haha! Not quite the special outing I’d see posted by other Mother’s on facebook, so loved reading how Mom’s day was an ordinary day too for you! But with some unexpected surprises along the way.
Maybe your kids’ love language is acts of service?! I think it’s pretty darn sweet of your older kids to take the time to help with those big projects! 🙂 No parties, but we’ll take all the help we can get, right? Thanks for reading, sweet friend!
Going over there to read now, too. My son didn’t know it was Mother’s Day either I don’t think. I love your “huhs.” They crack me up. And I did laundry as well AND bought the groceries for dinner, but at least my husband prepared the majority of it (on the grill). We were at my parent’s house earlier in the day, and my girls left a little early in their own car telling me “Mom you can’t come home yet.” I smiled, thinking maybe they were going to surprise me by cleaning the house before I got there or some big sign with streamers or something. But when I got home, all it was was an iced coffee on the kitchen counter with a note that said “We just want to expresso how much you bean to us” As you said, keep the expectations low:-) Bless their little, budding hearts.
I cracked up reading this the first time, and I’m cracking up reading it again now. LOLOL. I will say, your kids are pretty darn witty!! Oh, Julie- that’s hilarious. 😀
Hey Chris! It’s true: most moms would appreciate gratitude year round rather than bells and whistles on one day of the year. I think back to how much I took my mom for granted and it does stir up remorse in my spirit. May we remember the precious gift that each mother is!
We are so ignorant in our innocence when we are kids- it’s no wonder we don’t think to thank our moms and dads when we are growing up! I appreciate you reading my post and I’m so grateful for your thoughtful response, Alison. <3