If you are pregnant, have small children, grown children, or grandchildren, Mother’s Day is a special day for you. This year, what would I like for Mother‘s Day? A couple of things come to mind right away.
10. Alone bathroom time. For just one day, if the bathroom door is closed, no one will open it (even after knocking) or attempt to talk through it.
9. Get to eat my food when it is warm. I would like it if the kids could turn off the “sensor” that they have for needing something EVERY time I sit down to my meal. “Mom, I need a napkin. I just spilled.” “MOM! I need something to drink-this is SPICY!” “Mom, I have to go to the bathroom.”
8. Get to take a REAL shower. Not the speed shower where you wash the most important parts as quickly as you can as you listen for crying, yelling and fighting that might be going on in another room. I want enough time for the stress relief shower gel to take effect. I want to be able to be able to leave the 10 minute conditioner in my hair. I want to have the time to shave my legs, both of them.
7. Alone time to load music onto my IPOD AND an hour to go to the gym to listen to my new songs and work out without having to hear my kids chant “We hate the gym!”
6. A diaper-free day! On this day, I do not have to change any diapers!!
5. A day that I don’t have to explain that “Just a minute!” means JUST A MINUTE!
4. One day when I don’t have some foreign substance or stain on my clothes.
3. A magic fairy to grant me one day to fit into my pre-pregnancy bikini and spend a day on the beach sipping tropical drinks while I flirt with my husband.
2. A day when I don’t have to threaten to count to ten!
1. To spend the day with my kids AND MY Mom.
I never knew how much I didn’t appreciate my Mom until I had my own kids. I get it now. I understand the sacrifices, the frustrations and sometimes heartbreak. I now know why the Calgon (Take Me Away) commercials were so funny to her. I recognize the patience she had with us.
She was (and still is) a really fun Mom. The kind of Mom that lets her kids make cookies and when they get tired of helping, she gives them some dough to eat and go off to play while she finishes and cleans up. The kind of Mom that instead of scolding her daughter that is trying to sneak out of the house with make-up on, teaches her how to apply it lightly. The kind of Mom that lets her daughter wear a greasy McDonald’s fry box around her neck with a string because that is what all the other kids in kindergarten are doing. The kind of Mom that teaches her kids what they need to turn into responsible adults and then becomes their friend.
I love spending time with my Mom. We talk almost everyday on the phone because she lives in Wisconsin. I only see her about two times a year because she is still the kind of Mom that works hard enough that she doesn’t need to depend on anyone. She has taught me wonderful life lessons and I believe that I am a better Mom to my own children because of her.
Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers! I love and miss you, Mom! Thank you for everything.
Add a Comment4 Comments
What a great article and tribute to your Mom! You are a great Mom and still my inspiration!! I don't know how you do it all! and yep, I too cannot wait to have alone bathroom time!!!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
May 12, 2009 - 10:55amlove, Ania
This Comment
I loved your list Susie :) I was fortunate enough to take a shower and spent the day with my mom and my kids! The rest of the list didn't seem to happen but there is always next year ;)
I love reading your articles, they always bring a smile to my face.
May 12, 2009 - 10:20amLove and miss you,
Tina
This Comment
You are GREAT susie!! Miss you! I have lunch at J. Gardelli's the other day and thought of you. FYI, my girls made me breakfast is bed on Sunday and all I did all day was take a shower and put on fresh PJs. hehe. Rachel cooking is along way from us teaching her how to walk. :)
May 12, 2009 - 9:47amTime is FLYING!!
Love Lisa
This Comment
Well said with humor ... the only way to get through the days!
I loved #10 Alone bathroom time. It made me remember when I told my kids I was off to the toilet at home when I just really needed a few minutes on my own. After a couple of minutes, my son yells out, "Mum, that's a very long wee you are doing!". :)
Happy Mother's Day!
May 10, 2009 - 7:51pmThis Comment