Happy Mother’s Day!

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Mother’s Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I like to treat it as a holiday weekend and we recognize Mother’s Day Eve as well! Mainly just for discipline purposes – “tonight is a special night for mom so be on your best behavior and into tomorrow too!” I’m looking at this picture of my four children and I still can’t believe all four of them are mine! The days of when I just had one child are such a blur. Actually I do remember some funny things. For instance, I couldn’t seem to get a shower in when my first child was born. I just could not bear the thought to leave her side and I certainly did not think she’d survive the shower in a bouncy seat. I didn’t even think of putting her in her crib for 10 minutes while I cleaned up! And I surely didn’t take advantage of napping while she napped. Because once #2, #3, & #4 were born, naptime was the only time I could get anything done. And naps for me didn’t make the cut. I remember the day when my oldest gave up her nap. I think I cried for a week!

So last week, my first-grader invited me to Mother’s Day tea at her school. It was the cutest little production ever. First, the children drew portraits of their moms and we all had to guess which one was ours. Then each mom sat in a rocking chair at the front of the class while their child read a few of her favorite things about mom. Here is Ansley’s:
“My mother is the best in the whole entire world because she is always there when I need her. And best of all, we love each other. And she’s my mother. I love her so much that I just love the way she looks. And I just can’t get enough of that shirt that has all of those colors like ruby red and pink on it. She always wears it to church. I just can’t get enough of it. It is a beautiful color and it is so pretty. And P.S., She is the best – I love you mom!”

This was so sweet. It was such a treat to hear what each child wrote about their mom. The most touching part of the morning was when the music was turned on and Ansley held my hands while kneeling in front of me and sang this:

“Spend some time with your child every day. Hold on to each moment while you may. Childhood won’t last ’cause we grow up so fast. Spend some time with your child every day.”
(Sing 3x, second time change “child” to “mom”.)

Wow, this was right on! I hate to admit this, but sometimes as a mother of four, I really, really look forward to the second they all fall asleep. Instead of waiting for everyone to go to bed, I should embrace every second I have with each child. Because they do grow up so incredibly fast. Sometimes I wonder if my parents just truly forgot all of the challenging times of infancy and toddlerhood. I’m pretty sure if they told me what was ahead of me, I probably would have stopped after one! But so glad I didn’t:-) So we should all slow down and enjoy each day with our children. Before we know it, they will be packing up for college. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all! And a special thanks to our first grade teacher, Mrs. Smith. This was the best Mother’s Day gift of all:-)