Well let's see: Mother's Day is the holiday that allows us as people (well Americans at least; I have no clue if it is celebrated overseas or even over the borders) to show the women who gave birth to us, who raised us, who loved us as their own; even the men who raised the kids on their own or the same sex couples who did the job of parenting together-- well this is the day to show how much those people mean to us.
We see the cards in the stores. We get the flood of emails about the deals going on Mom will just love! We see the ads on TV, hear them on the radio, get the ink from the newspaper on our hands as the mail is 3-4x's thicker than normal. Ohh look: Pretty Necklace!!
I digress.
Anyways. This one day a year is supposed to be when moms "get a break." When we get to sit back and relax and enjoy the quiet. Relish in the struggle of someone else trying to get your crazy toddler ready for the day. Eat those carbs and laugh at the scale.
But that never seems to really be the case, does it? Mother's Day is the "day off" that is almost as stressful as a true working day or "day on." Maybe, honestly, more so.
I will say my guy tries so very hard. He has to get up at the ass-crack of dawn every morning for work as it is. Sometimes the ass-crack of dawn sees him and decides to get up! It's insane what time he has to start his day.
So this Mother's Day for him, he got to sleep in a little, you know all of 15 minutes longer than normal. He went to the store and got my super fresh flowers and gift card to B&N and a Mother's Day card. Then he came home and tried to get our toddler into the spirit of things. He got her out of bed and tried to let me sleep in some more, heedless of the fact I got jolted awake by our Rottie the same time he did! haha I hear our girl "HMPFH" as loudly as her tired self will let her as he takes her downstairs to get everything ready. I lay in bed and enjoy the space and quiet. Ahhhhh quiet. And space. So rare!
Then WHAM! My little firecracker throws open the door and sing-songs "Happy Mudders DAY!!" Okay. I admit. It was super cute. She's holding my bouquet of flowers and says "Read your book Mommy!!" ("Book" = Card.) It was the absolute best, most perfect card in the whole wide world, I'll be honest. I loved it. And all this by 7:12am!!
That's when my "day off" ended. From there it was the hustle and bustle of getting three people and a dog ready for a day with family, a day out of the house for almost the entire day. Ready runners? In Position! BANG!
First thing is wrestling the toddler into the dress one of her great grandma's got her. Then her dress shoes which she promptly removed no less than 6 times before we walked out the door. Then I had to brush and fix her hair. Eh, Minnie Tails like yesterday. They were cute then, so Spritz with water and put 'em back. Good to go!
Now time for this pregnant mommy to get her fat ass into a dress she feels cute in, won't get too hot OR too cold in, and shoes that will be cute but not break an ankle. Hair styled in those beachy waves the hair dresser showed me how to do a few weeks-- ahem, MONTHS--ago. Eh, close enough. It looks like I made an attempt at styling my hair and with enough hairspray, this look should last me for the day. Now makeup. Not so much that I look like a clown, but yeah, we need some definition this morning if we are going out in public on a major day. I only had to toss maybe 5-6 items of makeup for being expired since the last time I wore "my face." Nice.
We went for the record this time and managed to accomplish this--me and the kid--in about 78 minutes. Holler down the stairs at the guy to get the show on the road as we should be walking out the door now. Double check the diaper book bag to make sure I have the necessities: a spare dress for the girl so she can actually wear it before she out grows it, her tablet in case of meltdown in public, some toys, a "fun outfit" in case she decides to play because Lord knows she is not getting either of those dresses dirty, shoes for both outfits, change of underwear for her, toddler sunglasses, back up sunglasses in case she doesn't want to wear the first pair, and another back up in case she loses one or both of those. Make sure the (right) cards are in the (right) bags for the grandmas. Put those in the car. Put the diaper bag in the car. Put shoes on the kid for the 7th time. Help the guy find his sunglasses. Get directions to the brunch spot. Get in the car. Forgot to lock the house so get out of said car and do that. Time check?: 8:47. Only 17 minutes late. We should be fine!!
I will say that my Future MIL knows how to pick a brunch spot. Man was this place a spectacle. The dining area was decked out, complete with "mood" lighting. (ever thought a buffet needed pink and purple mood lighting but this looked GOOD!!) The toddler only fought us at first because she wanted to sit in a certain spot. She even ate a decent amount of breakfast. I was thrilled. Her daddy kept her entertained with the toys we had brought and I got to enjoy my food. I may have over-enjoyed it because I ate so much. Definitely got a belly-ful as my dad likes to say.
After brunch we visited with his grandma and great-grandma for a bit. Then headed back home to grab our Rottie and the food for lunch/grill out with my mom. Have you ever tried to carry 4 or 5 grocery bags full of food and be dragged by a 130lb Rottie on a leash to the car, all while trying not to trip on the floor and still be able to lock the front door? That was a workout!!
Lunch with my mom was fun too. Got to see my sister again; she's like 3 weeks away from giving birth to my nephew and I cannot wait to meet him!! We made a bunch of food that we ended up having to split between the three families to take home. Little girl went for a dip in the Jacuzzi and loved it. But by 4 o'clock, we were all a little tired. Okay, so we could barely keep our eyes open. It was so bad actually that the toddler asked me to bring her tablet upstairs, turn the TV off, and we just relax when we got home. Kid, you've got a GREAT idea!
Fast forward... okay no need to even fast forward. Kid was OUT in 4 minutes. She didn't even make it through the opening song to her new favorite show before she was doneso.
I figured since she was asleep I could go downstairs to watch some TV and relax with my guy. Something that wasn't animated or have really annoying songs. Yep, within 30 minutes he was asleep too! Even our ROTTIE was asleep in the living room!! Boy were we a party house or WHAT?!?
I ended up calling the FMIL and telling her we wouldn't be making it back over. Everyone was either asleep or too worn out to do much more tonight. "Dinner" meant we heated up cheese dip and had makeshift nachos while laying in bed. Time check?: 8:30pm. And this family was done.
So all-in-all, Mother's Day is a stressful day off for moms. We work harder on this day than almost any other day of the year. We have to get dressed up, get other people dressed up, prep and pack the car for a day's festivities, and plan weeks or months in advance to make sure we get just the right gift for the moms we love.
And I wouldn't change anything.
Honest.
I love my family. I love how big it was when I was growing up. And now that I have found the man I am going to spend forever with, the father of my children (both, because yeah, no more after this one), the provider and supporter; well that family got bigger the day we got together. And spending the time with them, enjoying making memories with all these people who love and care about us, who we love and care about. Well I'll take that over the any pretty necklace in the ads. Because a necklace can break, fade, or get lost. But those memories are treasures. Treasures without a map. Treasures without a chest to hide them. They are the treasures you get to share and enjoy forever.
And THAT is what I am grateful for. My memory-making moments and days with the special people.
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