Connie Mason Michaelis
Memories of Mother’s Day bubble up this time of year. I’ve been a mother for 55 years. I raised four fabulous humans who, in turn, have parented eleven outstanding grandchildren. In addition, I am the lucky bonus mom for Pat’s two kids and four grandchildren. You know, mothering takes a lot of work, patience, perseverance, guidance, faith, and unconditional love. And did I say work? For all the mothers in the world, one day is not enough, not even close. I don’t care about Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, Siblings Day, or any other Hallmark Day – mothers deserve it all!
As I sit here today, on Mother’s Day, writing this message, I realize my house is quiet. Beautiful flowers are on the counter – a gift from my kids, of course. The house is clean, the laundry is done, and we’ll go out to eat; this is all I ever wanted in all those years.
But alas, this is what I remember. The church had a special musical presentation for mothers. The kids had to be dressed and ready to get to the rehearsal early that morning, along with any required props. You know how kids love to get up on Sunday and get ready for church - enough said.
After church was a quick drive-through lunch because the annual dance recital was planned – of course, for the mother’s pleasure. My three daughters needed multiple costumes ready to go with all the accessories - tap, ballet, and jazz shoes, hair in tight buns, and pancake makeup applied with ruby red lips. At the end of the day, it was just sheer exhaustion and maybe a sweet handmade card wishing me the best Mother’s Day ever!
What I wanted is a day like today: sleep in as long as you want, eat when and what you want, get flowers delivered to the door, and have a whole day to yourself. The problem is that the reward we sought back then was delayed for many years.
My daughters are celebrating Mother’s Day 2024 at church, ball games, 5-K races, and college graduations. Up there with Christmas and Easter, this sacred day seems to be a fair game for anyone to organize an event. And they have the nerve to say it is for the mother’s pleasure. If moms must lift a finger to prepare, it is not for their pleasure. Planners, marketing gurus, organizations, coaches, etc., need to get their hands off Mother’s Day. Leave mothers alone – that’s all they want.
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