I’ve always maintained Mother’s Day is a holiday for mothers whose mothers have passed away or live far away. In my life I have neither scenario, not that I’m ready for the mothers in my life to be absent, but I’ve always strived to have a mother’s day I can also enjoy.
When the kids were little it was more difficult because they had to be directed, then it was a matter of depending on my husband to carry the festivity torch. Though lovable, kind, and generous he was worried I’d be disappointed, so he always deferred to me. I wouldn’t have been. As the person who planned everything for everyone all the time, I would have welcomed any input.
All I really expect on Mother’s Day is a little prostrate adoration around my feet in recognition of the competent mother that I have come to be. Is that really too much to ask? Things are better now that my kids are technically adults. They have their own money and can shower me with gifts. But there is still the question of other mothers in my life whom I wish to honor as well. All this takes time and effort on my part.
Although this year was an odd one due to events beyond my control, I’d have to say it was one of the most enjoyable on record because of those surrounding circumstances. They made me realize how truly fortunate I am. I had to go to urgent care on Saturday and Sunday to finish a couple rounds of IV steroid treatments for MS exacerbations I’ve been having. I thought I was finished with the initial three-day course of on Friday, when a case of double vision jumped on the wagon. This is one of those “count your blessings” scenarios, because though I had to have two more rounds of steroids on Saturday and Sunday, it was fortuitous in its presentation.
One was that it was a weekend and my husband was home to drive me. Two was that since I hadn’t had a break in the treatments, I was able to just add two more on to the end. Had I finished the whole round and the double vision showed up later in the week, I would have had to start over with an additional five. Three was that my MIL was in a hospital nearby, so we visited her after my treatments. Not that we wouldn’t have gone to see her had we not been out already, but two birds, one stone and all. On Saturday, my husband and I leisurely made our way home, running errands, eating lunch out, and shopping. When we finally made it back there was a lovely pot of flowers from my oldest, my husband picked out a gorgeous fuchsia for me from Foley’s Produce in Maple Valley, and my youngest replaced a bear garden statue with a squished elf on the bottom of his foot that I broke last year.
On Mother’s Day my MIL was doing much better and wasn’t in pain, which was a gift unto itself. My husband’s brother and sister were there and it was fun to hear them reminisce over their childhoods. So my MIL had as nice of a Mother’s Day as she could have considering her situation. And she didn’t even get drug out onto a cold, wet, windy beach for a picnic, which was my personal preference for a Mother’s Day celebration in the past.
Then we drove home to have our last round of Mother’s Day festivities with my mother. My youngest made a fruit salad and I made fish tacos. I also bought a couple homemade fruit cobblers from Foley’s, whose mother makes them homemade every day.
It was a Mother’s Day to count my blessings, for sure. And I felt truly loved, even without the ardent adoration.
Gretchen Leigh is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Covington. You can read more of her writing and her blog on her website livingwithgleigh.com, follow her on Facebook at “Living with Gleigh by Gretchen Leigh”or on Twitter @livewithgleigh. Her column is also available at maplevalleyreporter.com under the Life section.
