Happy Mother's Day!
Truthfully, Mother's Day has, in my married adult life, usually been a bit of a downer for me. Because of not being able to be a mother, I have to admit that I sometimes was resentful of those around me who were mothers. I prayed a lot about this attitude... that God would help me get past it.
This will be the third Mother's Day that I have actually felt somewhat included. My dear father-in-law, on the Mother's Day right after we announced that we were adopting, purchased the most beautiful necklaces for my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and me. It was my first ever for-real Mother's Day gift! And, along with the necklace, he had our niece write out a card as if it was from our son. I was in tears!
Though I always remember my mom on Mother's Day (and give her at least a card), I sometimes forget to stop and really think about all that she did for me. As my time to be a mother grows nearer (I hope), I do stop and think, sometimes, about all the things that being a mother entails.
Of course I think of all the fun stuff that I'll hopefully be able to experience! The playing outside, the teaching about plants and such while working together in the garden, watching him play in the yard while I sit on the porch swing, the hugs and cuddles. Those kind of things are always the first to pop into my mind. But then, sneaking in right behind those thoughts, come the not-so-fun things. The realization that, at some point in his life (probably more than once or twice), he'll wake up in the middle of the night throwing up (ew!), he'll have a meltdown in the grocery store or the library or some other VERY public place, he'll purposely do what we have told him NOT to do, he will get hurt while playing in the yard and possibly require a trip to the ER... All you moms out there know the reality of those things.
So, this Mother's Day, I want to honor my mom by remembering some of the fun things that she did or taught me or that we did together...
~I remember she used to wash my hair in the kitchen sink. When I was a little girl she used to sit me on the counter, where I would lay down on my back with my head over the edge of the sink, and she would wash my hair. I now realize she probably did this because it was easier than kneeling next to the bathtub!
~I remember she used to fill a metal washtub with cold water from the hose for me, on those hot summer days. I would beg and beg her to do it, and finally she would. It was just a regular, old metal washtub that she used in the basement next to the washing machine. But she would lug it outside to the porch and fill it with startlingly cold water from the garden hose, and I would put on my swimsuit and get my dolls and sit in that washtub and play as long as she would let me. (these days there is no way I could even fit myself into one of those metal washtubs!)
~I remember her teaching me how to cook. Of course, it started out simply. She had a mayonnaise salad dressing that she would make in one of those shaker containers. That was the very first thing she taught me to make. And she never measured the ingredients; you just had to eyeball it. I gained great confidence when I could make that dressing and no one knew it wasn't made by her! Even after I got married, I would call her from time to time for advice about cooking.
~I remember her teaching me how to sled ride in the summer. Yes, you heard me right! She taught me how to take a cardboard box, either sit down inside the box or fold it flat and sit on it, and slide down the hill in our front yard in the middle of summer. Because the grass was all dried in the summer heat, the box would slide fairly well down the hill. It was nothing like real sledding in the winter, but it was a good summer substitute! (until the day I tried it on a hill in the woods and slid over a stump and cracked my favorite plastic sled right down the middle!)
She used to sit me on her lap and read to me. She also used to make homemade playdough. She acted as the referee between my brother and me. When I was away at college, she sent me the most awesome care packages!
These are by far not the only fun things she shared with me, but those are what stand out in my dwindling middle-aged mind. I only hope that I can leave lasting fond memories in the mind of our little boy as he grows.
So, happy Mother's Day!
Truthfully, Mother's Day has, in my married adult life, usually been a bit of a downer for me. Because of not being able to be a mother, I have to admit that I sometimes was resentful of those around me who were mothers. I prayed a lot about this attitude... that God would help me get past it.
This will be the third Mother's Day that I have actually felt somewhat included. My dear father-in-law, on the Mother's Day right after we announced that we were adopting, purchased the most beautiful necklaces for my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and me. It was my first ever for-real Mother's Day gift! And, along with the necklace, he had our niece write out a card as if it was from our son. I was in tears!
Though I always remember my mom on Mother's Day (and give her at least a card), I sometimes forget to stop and really think about all that she did for me. As my time to be a mother grows nearer (I hope), I do stop and think, sometimes, about all the things that being a mother entails.
Of course I think of all the fun stuff that I'll hopefully be able to experience! The playing outside, the teaching about plants and such while working together in the garden, watching him play in the yard while I sit on the porch swing, the hugs and cuddles. Those kind of things are always the first to pop into my mind. But then, sneaking in right behind those thoughts, come the not-so-fun things. The realization that, at some point in his life (probably more than once or twice), he'll wake up in the middle of the night throwing up (ew!), he'll have a meltdown in the grocery store or the library or some other VERY public place, he'll purposely do what we have told him NOT to do, he will get hurt while playing in the yard and possibly require a trip to the ER... All you moms out there know the reality of those things.
So, this Mother's Day, I want to honor my mom by remembering some of the fun things that she did or taught me or that we did together...
~I remember she used to wash my hair in the kitchen sink. When I was a little girl she used to sit me on the counter, where I would lay down on my back with my head over the edge of the sink, and she would wash my hair. I now realize she probably did this because it was easier than kneeling next to the bathtub!
~I remember she used to fill a metal washtub with cold water from the hose for me, on those hot summer days. I would beg and beg her to do it, and finally she would. It was just a regular, old metal washtub that she used in the basement next to the washing machine. But she would lug it outside to the porch and fill it with startlingly cold water from the garden hose, and I would put on my swimsuit and get my dolls and sit in that washtub and play as long as she would let me. (these days there is no way I could even fit myself into one of those metal washtubs!)
~I remember her teaching me how to cook. Of course, it started out simply. She had a mayonnaise salad dressing that she would make in one of those shaker containers. That was the very first thing she taught me to make. And she never measured the ingredients; you just had to eyeball it. I gained great confidence when I could make that dressing and no one knew it wasn't made by her! Even after I got married, I would call her from time to time for advice about cooking.
~I remember her teaching me how to sled ride in the summer. Yes, you heard me right! She taught me how to take a cardboard box, either sit down inside the box or fold it flat and sit on it, and slide down the hill in our front yard in the middle of summer. Because the grass was all dried in the summer heat, the box would slide fairly well down the hill. It was nothing like real sledding in the winter, but it was a good summer substitute! (until the day I tried it on a hill in the woods and slid over a stump and cracked my favorite plastic sled right down the middle!)
She used to sit me on her lap and read to me. She also used to make homemade playdough. She acted as the referee between my brother and me. When I was away at college, she sent me the most awesome care packages!
These are by far not the only fun things she shared with me, but those are what stand out in my dwindling middle-aged mind. I only hope that I can leave lasting fond memories in the mind of our little boy as he grows.
So, happy Mother's Day!