I’ve been blessed to be a mama for a decade now and the one thing I’ve learned as a mom is that you need to go in to Mother’s Day with the right expectations. π Why? Because I used to think that this one day of the year would be an actual day where I could get away with sleeping in, having breakfast in bed, and generally speaking, not having to lift a single finger the whole day. How did I ever get thisΒ crazy idea in my head? Because I was led to believe that Mother’s Day isΒ a day designated to celebrating moms. And when you’re expecting to be treated like the VIP that you are (wink, wink), you look forward to thisΒ day the same way that you look forward to going on a tropical vacation: You say “bring it on!”.
Well, soon after I experienced my first Mother’s Day, reality set in. Nope, I did not get to sleep in (because babies don’t understand the concept of sleeping in), I still had to change diapers and wipe little behinds, I still had to feedΒ people, I still had to do whatever request a munchkin asked me to do because as moms all know, you’re the only one special enoughΒ to do such aΒ request. π Dishes still piled up in the sink, the laundry baskets were still full and the bathroom was still the one place IΒ couldn’t go alone.
I got to the point where I decided the best way I could enjoy Mother’s Day was to prepare myself for it. By prepare I meant doing the laundry (washing, drying and ironing) a day early. Vacuuming and mopping the floors earlier in the week. Making sure the fridge was stocked and would last us through the weekend. Doing any other things that needed to be done before Mother’s Day, so I could do what I was supposed to do on Mother’s Day: enjoy Mother’s Day. Pretty silly, huh? π
I cameΒ to the realizationΒ that my expectations were all wrong. I had set the bar so high for this one particular day. I didn’t want to do any housework. I didn’t wantΒ my kids toΒ ask me to do anything for them. I wanted to be wined and dined (even take-out would be fine!) I justΒ wanted the whole dayΒ to be perfect (is that too much to ask?!) LOL. I was essentially asking to not be a mother on Mother’s Day.
I’ve finally come full circle on this whole Mother’s Day issue. I now accept that Mother’s Day is not for me. π It’s for my kids.Β It’s a day for them to look forward to asΒ they wake up excited in the morning toΒ bring me breakfast in bed.Β It’s a day where they have the chance to presentΒ me with a gift they made with their ownΒ little hands or bought with their own money. It’s a day for them to give me hugs and words of appreciation because they honestly think I’m one of the most important people in the world. It’s a day to marvel at their unconditional love for me just for being their mom.
So I’m good with Mother’s Day. I may even be looking forward to it this year. π I hope you are, too. And if you’re still hoping for that one day a year where you don’t have to lift a finger and everything is perfect? There’s always your birthday. π
Here’s wishing you and your family a very happy Mother’s Day!Β Thank God for moms!
Love this! It is for the kids.
(Didn’t like mother’s day growing up. My mom hated it. So I was not interested in it as a mom. But Father’s Day, I was excited because it was a special day to have the kids show their love for their dad. It then hit me that it was the same for Mother’s Day. So it’s the day I celebrate BEING THEIR mom. And now I don’t dread it.)
Amen to this. π