Mother's Day Thoughts

A recipe for a perfect day for me might include some of the following....

Sleeping 12/24 hours.

Reese Pieces.

The pressure and warmth of a friendly hand on, or in, your own. (Human touch is so important and conveys so much)

Scrabble.

Pit.

The sight of daffodils waving in the breeze.

Thunderstorms.

Pedicure.

Banter.

Cornbread

The smell of lilacs.

The comforting presence of a dear friend.

A scarf.

BBQ ribs.

Cornhole. (Because I cannot hit the broad side of a barn but I get lucky occasionally. Pick me as your teammate.)

A Broadway show.

Time on a jet ski.

A ride on Top Thrill Dragster.

A large Diet Coke.

Snapping beans on the porch.

Someone washing, drying, and brushing my hair. Like every day for the rest of my life. Okay, one time is fine. (This is truly one of the simplest and best joys in life. Why does it feel so amazing?!)

Hearing old songs like "Yesterday," or "The Way You Look Tonight," or "My Way" for the afternoon.

Most of these things cost little or nothing. Remember when you are gift giving, money is often, less.

My son asked me what I wanted for mommy's day, and, frankly, any one of the above would be enough for me. Notice only one of them really involves standing. And none of them involve running.

How well do you know the people in your life? So many gifts will be given in the next few days. How much of it will be purchased in haste and mean little?

I feel like Mother's Day is kind of ridiculous. Always have. It makes, giving and appreciating, almost obligatory. (And who made it on a Sunday which involves no morning rest as we try to rally everyone for church?! Probably not a mother.)

I think most mothers would agree that the best gifts are those that involve a resting time with dear friends/family. Order in please. (For the working mothers) Go out (more than likely) - for the stay-at-homers.

As a person whose primary love language is gifts - I find it so important to express the importance for heartfelt, knowlegeable gifting. Know your people. Know what they like. Know what they don't. Know what will make them laugh. Know what will be of some meaning. Understand what it means to be a mother of littles. How some of the choices made are actually more work than we care to do on a day that is meant to give respite, however mandatory.

I might have just saved your marriage. Or made you angry. There is probably no middle ground on this one. But, I think this day often involves less thought and more, "this is what everyone does on this day." Like brunch. In my opinion, the absolute last thing I would ever want to do on any day, especially Mother's day. Or breakfast in bed. Do you know how difficult it is to eat pancakes in bed?!

I'm pretty easy, a box of Reese Pieces, and a game of Scrabble. It will be painful for you, Ryan, since you hate the game, but it will only cost you $1 and an hour of time. And I will be over the moon.

Give little gifts often. Not just on reserved days. And give them to everyone. Appreciation and kindnesses speak volumes. Time. Words. Touch. Candy.

May your household be able to say...

Love in any language. Fluently spoken here.