Today marks the 20th Mother’s Day for me as a mother; the day marks the 15th Mother’s Day for me without my own mother. I spent the first few Mother’s Days without Mom grieving for her. I lashed out; I cried; I found the simple act of getting out of bed to be difficult.
In time, I realized that I cannot fall completely apart every time the calendar makes its way back to Mother’s Day. If the Earth continues to make its annual trips around the sun, we are going to find ourselves back here every year. I knew that I needed to find a way to honor my mother without derailing emotionally.
After the first few heart wrenching Mother’s Days without Mom, I began celebrating mothers. I would take my friends and their mothers out for a nice meal, and I would wish all the amazing mothers that I know a happy Mother’s Day. I would scroll through Facebook to see how everyone found to celebrate their mothers, and I would let their celebrations lift up my spirits.
Then I began taking time for myself on Mother’s Day. I would sleep in, spend time writing, and I would even allow myself to enjoy a nice meal and pretend that my mother was there dining with me. I imagined what we would talk about. I imagined what she would say about life as it is today. I know that sounds crazy, but I am a writer. For me, writing dialogue in my head to reminisce my days with Mom feels natural.
Here we are again. It is Mother’s Day. This Mother’s Day will be about seizing the day and enjoying the simple things in life.
This began with getting up extra early to have time with the fur kids before heading off to the airport. Chewy demands his morning snuggle time, and this morning was no different. He follows me around the house snuggling against my legs and hopping up on furniture in an attempt to rub his head against mine, until I pick him up. I cradle him in my arms for a full head to tummy snuggle. He got an extra-long cradle snuggle this morning and rewarded me with a purr. Finally, Winter grew tired of waiting for her turn for snuggles, and she started to crawl up my pajama pants, so I set my Choo Choo down, and picked up the snowball princess. She too purred for me, and she did not want to be put down. Potatoe then had his turn in the form of a fully body massage, and then a walk in the backyard. He is the best pooch. The human kids and Trooper missed this time as they were all still sleeping.
<fast forward almost a week.>
It is Saturday night, following Mother’s Day Sunday. I got busy with other things on Sunday, and I never finished my Mother’s day post. I am now waiting for my steakhouse dinner (spoiled). I spent the week in Vancouver. Work kept me busy, while Brainy Bird managed everything on the home front with Little Chirp. I am looking forward to getting home to them tomorrow, but in the meantime, I will be embracing every simple pleasure that comes my way in life.