According to the ever popular and always factually correct Wikipedia, “Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.”
This year Mother’s Day will be celebrated in the United States on Sunday May 13.
We should celebrate motherhood. We should, in my opinion, celebrate it every.single.day.
Motherhood is hard.
Motherhood is messy.
Motherhood is beautiful.
Motherhood changes everything about a woman. Every woman comes into motherhood in a different way. Let’s all give a nice slow clap for all the mamas out there!
I’d dare to say most of us mamas don’t want diamonds or pearls this Mother’s Day, and most family budgets just don’t allow a fancy spa day or impromptu weekend getaway.
So, please, dear husband, don’t buy me a carnation. Ever. Better yet, don’t even bother with the flowers, it’s just one more thing I have to keep alive in this house. Don’t give me coupons for back rubs or breakfast in bed, because, let’s be honest, the back rub will last exactly 30 seconds, and I’ll just end up washing the sheets after breakfast anyway. I don’t even need you to promise me that you’ll let me sleep in because we all know that will never happen without some child needing something, yelling, or waking me to find a shoe, shirt, cup, whatever. It won’t happen.
Instead, allow me to offer a list, in no particular order, of what I DO want this Mother’s Day…
Do the Dishes
Easy enough, right? I don’t mind cooking any of the meals this Mother’s Day because I love cooking. But I’m not doing the dishes. The pots, the pans, the kids cups, etc. You know I don’t like a sink full of dirty dishes, so let’s all do this mama the favor and either:
A.) put it in the dishwasher (and unload it when it’s clean)
or B.) hand wash it yourself (and put it away when it’s clean). You get the picture.
Fold the Laundry
I’m not against doing laundry because the washer and dryer truly do all of the work for me. But when that magical noise comes beckoning from the laundry room that the load is ready to be nicely folded and put away, it’ ain’t beckoning mama today! I would rather gladly continue to enjoy some peace and quiet time not doing household chores while someone else tries to match all those socks today.
Put the Kids to Bed
Lets face it, I could get drunk on the smell of a freshly bathed baby any day, but I loathe the bedtime routine. Especially when I do it solo a pretty good chunk of the time. The complaining, the fighting, the whining …oh the whining … it’s enough to make a sane person crazy! And then the questions! The requests for water, oh so much water, the complaints, and more water. Please get our freshly bathed children in appropriate pajamas with brushed teeth and combed hair. Read them the story that they fought over for 15 minutes, say prayers, and let me just whisk in, kiss their faces and tell them goodnight. While all this transpires, I’ll be outside … with the dogs. Obviously.
Pour Me a Drink, or Two
Please interpret the word drink loosely. Mother’s Day is on a Sunday, and we are a church-going family, so before we head out the door, please pour me some coffee. The good stuff that we saved for a special occasion, such as today. You know how I take it. As the day goes on, I may want a mimosa, or a glass of wine. I may want more coffee. I may just want a simple glass of water, but your efforts to serve me in the simplest form today will not go unnoticed. A snack should also be offered in all instances as well. Do as the toddlers do I say.
Homemade Stuff
I may not be very sentimental, but I love me some good handmade stuff from my sweet babies. No need for store bought cards or random kitchen accessories we don’t actually need. Give me all the macaroni art you can muster out of those tiny humans! I want some scribbles and ‘I love you mama’ on construction paper! But please, PLEASE, do this before Mother’s Day!! Nothing is more annoying than hiding on your own holiday, so the kids can make their masterpieces.
Something Delicious
I’m keeping this one intentionally vague. Either we’re getting take out or you’re throwing some steaks on the grill. You’re already cleaning up anyway. I don’t want to go to a restaurant because #toddlerproblems. You’re either getting me my favorite macarons or we’re taking the kids for some fro yo. Whatever it is, I want a treat today. Something we don’t do every day or week. We’re having a treat that I don’t have to make, and I don’t have to clean up.
Entertain the Kids OR Lets do Something Really Fun Together
The last thing I want to hear today is “Mooooommmmm!!” for the 119373t4983659 time. Keep them entertained and out of my hair. Seriously. Let one day pass without everyone coming to mom for their needs. Entertain them. Referee them.
I’d cry tears of joy if the first words out of one of our children’s mouths was “dad.
And if staying home just sounds like running the Boston Marathon, let’s go to the zoo, or the trampoline park, or anything that doesn’t involve total destruction of our house. I’m game for anything as long as you’re in command!
Pick up the Messes. All of Them!
Last, but certainly not least, please just pick up all. the. messes. today! The toys in the playroom. The dog toys. The crumbs all over the table and floor. The toothpaste in the sink. The dirty clothes. The wet towels. If it is something otherwise left for mama to do, please do it for me. Just today. I’m only asking for one day.
You can do it, Dear Husband.
For more Mother’s Day gift ideas, check out Corinne’s post here.
