Thinking of our Mommies

With Mother’s Day soon approaching, I thought I might take the time to truly reflect upon the inspiring qualities of our mothers and grandmothers.  As an annual holiday, it is simple to quickly go to the store, pick up a card and maybe some flowers, and be done with the gift.  I’ve done it several times.  I get it.  Life gets in the way, we get busy, and several days ahead of time we remember, “Oh crap, Sunday is Mother’s Day.  I better go pick something up sometime soon.”  Or, we send out the mass text message to our siblings to see what joint project we might be able to pitch in on.

Is this pretty accurate for everyone else?  Or am I the only one? 

This is not at all to say that I forget to appreciate my mother or grandmother, but with the goings-on of life, it’s easy to forget the annual holiday.  Or rather, perhaps we just store it in our subconscious minds, bringing it to awareness at the last minute. 

I wrote a post about Valentine’s Day a couple months ago and discussed how it has seemingly become a forced Hallmark Holiday—a day where we’ve come to expect extravagant gifts or overly-planned expressions of love.  Has Mother’s Day and Father’s Day essentially become the same? 

I do not think that this is the case, because our parents definitely deserve to be honored and nationally recognized for everything that they’ve done for us.  However, like the Valentine’s Day post, it is of the utmost importance to express that appreciation all year, and not just save it all up for the chosen date on the calendar. 

Again, these notions are not meant to assume that nobody appreciates their mommies (and daddies) year round, but think about how special it would be for a Mother to receive a gift or an act of kindness on any random day throughout the year.  “Just because” moments like this seem to really tug at the heart strings more often than a gift that’s expected. 

Nonetheless, a nationally recognized Holiday to honor our mothers (and fathers) is undeniably well-deserved.  But this year on Mother’s Day I am making a vow to my amazing mother. 

I promise to make it known to you, mom, year round, how much I appreciate you, how much I love you, and how my life would be nothing without you. 

And in honor of my mother (and grandmother) and all other mommies out there, thank you for everything, large and small, that you’ve ever done for your children: 

1. Thank you for always cooking us healthy meals and making our bellies happy.  God knows we could never match your mad kitchen skills. Even at 25 years old, I still call home with a rumbling belly asking “what’s for dinner?” 

2. Thank you for doing the laundry.  I don’t know how many clothes I would have ruined if I had to do my own laundry growing up. I know it’s not difficult, but mommies just seem to always do it best. 

3. Thank you for sewing all my clothes and for being so crafty by sprucing up my room.  I do wince a bit though when you tell me I’m domestically challenged.  Give me a break.  High school cut the Home-Ec classes.  That was a big mistake. 

4. For your loving and nurturing quality, thank you for being our emotional rock. 

5. Thank you for driving me to school, sporting events, or other extra-curricular activities or commitments during my teen years. 

6. Thank you for sitting through all those sporting events and extra-curricular activities.  As a coach, I now see how exhausting that must have been for you every single weekend. 
 
7. Thank you for listening to us ramble, complain, or tattle-tale about other kids in school.  I see now how annoying that must have been day in and day out.

8. Thank you for teaching me about God and the Bible, and for raising me with proper morals and values. 

9. Thank you for supporting my education and career path.

10. Thank you for teaching me the importance of exercise.  I never actually thought that exercise would be a priority and a “reward” in my adult life.  As a child, it just seemed like a chore.  Thanks for reinforcing how important it is for health and wellness. 

11. Thank you for singing me to sleep when I was little, and now, for singing along with me to my favorite songs.  Even though I just can't figure out harmony.  Obviously, I was not blessed with that quality of yours.  Argh...

12. Thank you for “attempting” at teaching me how to drive your jeep wrangler, despite the fact I still can’t drive a stick shift to this day.

13. Thank you for helping us on challenging school/work projects. Sometimes a little maternal inspiration is just the boost we need to tackle the hard parts. 

      For everything and more, thank you mommies (and grand-mommies).  We couldn’t have made it without you.  We love you to the moon and back. 

       Personal blog posts specifically addressed to my mother and grandmother coming soon...  

      Have a fabulous Mothers Day weekend!  

        ~Elizabeth