The REAL Mother’s Day Story
I wish I could tell you that I got to sleep in, was made breakfast in bed and then was treated to a brunch where all my kids looked gorgeous and then we went for a walk on the beach and my husband cooked dinner and everyone went to bed early so me and hubby could relax and reminisce of our wonderful day together on this 9th Mother’s Day we have shared.
Ummmm…. WRONG! DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200. GO DURECTLT TO JAIL IF YOU THINK THATS HOW THIS STORY GOES.
I’m writing to you from the bathroom. Yup. The bathroom. Where I’m contemplating a.) taking a shower b.) just sitting and typing c.) hiding from the outside world or d.) reminiscing of my crazy (per usual Sunday morning or e.) all of the above.
Correct Answer: e- All of the above.
So let me shoot it to you straight, people. The REAL Mothers’s Day happens, well anytime I get a “get out if jail free” card and can escape the house to have alone time. And that includes work. Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOOOOVVE my crew, but 4 is/can be/ will always be a house of crazy with love on top. Just the way things are. Mother’s Day is a fun day to attempt to call it a holiday, but who are we kidding?! Unless, I’m 10,000 miles away, on a work trip or deathly ill in the hospital, I have had more relaxing days spent at the dentist than on Mother’s Day. Sorry…that’s the truth.
So today, on this glorious day that we honor Mothers, my husband gets sick. Sick like stay-away-and-don’t-come-near-me-because-if-you-get-me-or-a-kid-sick-I-will-kill-you-because-ain’t-nobody-got-time-for-that- sick.
So, I put on my big girl panties and did what any good Mother would do. Got shit done. Told Hubby to go back to bed and stay away from us, first. Then the real party got started. We were all … up at 7, breakfast by 7:30, work by 8, errands by 9, car wash by 10, lunch by 11, and naps at noon.
And here I am now. Now enjoying peace and quiet, albeit in the bathroom where I’d rather do my therapy (that’s really what this blogging thing is also known as) instead of out in the living room for just a few minutes….And hopefully I’ll get a shower, brush my teeth, and get to dry my hair to be human by this afternoon. But today will go on. It will end as quick as it started and just be another day in the books.
So it wasn’t the story book day everyone paints. It never is. But the day was great. Because it really was. I got to hang with my 4 little people. They had fun at the car wash and Target. They loved lunch at Sweet Tomatoes (not because I wanted to go there but because I knew everyone could agree on there.) We had a typical day, filled with the typical stuff and that’s a okay with me. Because somewhere out there, I’m sure my day sounds pretty perfect to someone else, just as theirs sounds pretty perfect to me.
One more thing…let’s face it- do you KNOW how much effort goes into those picture perfect kids at church or at the store? Do you understand how much timing is involved in getting everyone out the door looking all fancy? I’m exhausted just thinking about it. (The next time you are at church, congratulate the patents who have themselves put together and the kids.) Smoke and mirrors. Smoke and mirrors.
We are Mothers, everyday, to anyone and everyone who needs our help in anytime and any place. We jump at the chance to help others out, near and far, offer support, love, friendship, trust and faith to those that need to be picked up. We just do. Make it work. It’s what we all do best. P.S. We aren’t always perfect either (note the breakfast below I almost served my kid because I was exhausted and didn’t read the label!)
So on today, this 100th Mother’s Day, I hope everyone realizes that it’s really no different that any other day. Yes, there’s some more freebies, and if you get pampered, consider yourself one of the lucky, but just remember to thank your Mother more than just one time a year. A small token (kiss, hug, call, night out, etc.) of appreciation goes VERY far and we always love it, just as we do on Mother’s Day.
So now, I’m going to take a nap. A nap sounds like a wonderful present to me. Nap wins over shower. Maybe tomorrow… Decisions, decisions…
Smile and make the best of the day! It’s all you really have control of anyways!