Mother's Day

Ah, Mother's Day. Did you have a good one? Was it all that you hoped for? Did you get nice gifts? Did you feel loved , honored, and cherished by those you love? Or maybe you felt guilty for not being all that you think you should be? Did it bring up feelings of conflict with the mother figures in your life? Maybe you are sad because your mother is no longer with you or because you have never been a mother yourself. How lucky we women are to have a day devoted to us that can make us feel so loved and crappy all at the same time. Thanks what's-her-name (Anna Jarvis - by the way, she later became a protester of what the day had become and she said that she, "...wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control ...".)

In case you can't tell, I'm not a big fan of Mother's Day. And I think that's OK.

I noticed a really strange phenomenon this year. As I made purchases this weekend the checker would wish me happy Mother's Day. What the what? I don't know any of these people. What is the point of this kind of salutation? It's a sad day when it's only in a public setting that motherhood is acknowledged. On TV there are ads and shows that evoke maudlin emotions. Stores are filled with books and cards full of tender stories and
over-emotional sentiments. Gag me with a spoon!!!

For me, the very worst is at Church. Some years all the talks are about the glories of motherhood. Sometimes the talks are tributes to moms who are the best friends of their children. I am so happy for people who have warm, loving relationships with their mothers. Actually, I envy them. My relationship with my own mother is not close. Or warm. Or... We are always very cordial  but we lack any real connection. Mother's Day serves as reminder of what I am missing. And I miss it a lot.

Then there are the talks about super awesome moms. Some do heroic things, others do small things in big ways, and still others are tireless workers, or generous to a fault, etc, etc, etc. I do not measure up. I am a perfectly acceptable, ordinary mom. And I'm OK with that. I see my faults and I try to do better. Except on Mother's Day. Some people lay on the praise so thick that I feel immobilized by it. A voice in my head shouts, "You are not like that! You are the opposite of that. You are a fraud!!!" I really hate that voice.

I wish that there were no talks in church about moms on Mother's Day. And that the Hallmark channel wouldn't have a tear-jerker movie. I wish that it was more personal. And more low key. And I wish my mom wouldn't call me later tonight to ask me what I got for mother's day.

The Boy wrote me a heartfelt poem. Moli gave me a package of Oreos (which I have been craving lately).  Dude-Man and the kids gave me the game Just Dance. All of these things were great presents and I was happy to get them. But when Mom calls tonight there will be disappointment in her voice. It kills me every year.

Anyway, I think Mother's Day should be a day when kids try to be nicer to their moms. Maybe they could cook dinner or make breakfast. And mostly they should just tell their moms that they love them. Because all a mom really wants is to know that her family loves and appreciates what she does for them.

Check out Kyuhyun's tender message to his mom last Christmas. For those of you who don't want to watch the whole thing, it starts at about 1:04 give or take a second.

subs byprincekyuteam
What a sweet boy. Almost as sweet as mine.