Mother's Day 2013

Well, it's Mother's Day and I'm awake before the kids.  

A couple of young folk offered to prepare me a breakfast of ham, eggs and fruit.  

All the family was together last night for an early celebration since I will be travelling for work over the next few days.  One thoughtful young person got me a bouquet of tulips on Thursday evening.  I'm looking at them, admiring them now as I type this entry.  

 

Other than gifts of flowers, chocolate or scented candles, my children know better than to purchase me "things" for Mother's Day or other celebrations.  I prefer the offer of time and labour or new experiences.  

It's the gift of time spent together, sharing experiences that I appreciate most. 

Since work schedules and the weather didn't cooperate, we didn't get out to the Tulip Festival or a restaurant dinner yesterday.  We settled for pizza delivery and a viewing of Super 8 on Netflix.  That movie will likely become another family favourite, first viewed on the big screen in 2011.  It's like ET meets The Goonies. 

Movies are less scary when viewed on a 20 inch screen and you get to control the noise level.  

I also like being able to pause the movie when people need to use the washroom or blow their runny noses due to allergies. 

I wanted to take this moment to express my love and appreciation for my beautiful children.   I have hope for them as they deal with past hurts, looking forward as they navigate individual, meandering paths in this confusing yet beautiful world.  Heck, at times it feels like I'm renegotiating my own. 

On this day I also think about my relationship with my own Mother who passed away almost 30 years ago.  Despite her self-imposed martyrdom, she was a good Mother.  She meant well, being dealt the hand she had with living in near-poverty and raising eleven children.  Being a good Catholic, one of her frequent mantras was, "God looks after the Mothers.".  She was a woman of deep faith.  

Sometimes, all we have to live on are faith - and hope.  

Here's to the mothers, real and imagined.   

Before I pack and while I wait for that breakfast, I think I'll have another cup of instant coffee and a serving of toast with jam.  This could take a while...
 
Thanks for dropping by.

T