I am a mom and when moms get busy doing their 'mom' things, then other items become late. So here is my already-going-to-be-random-but-now-also-late Mother's Day Blog. Keep up.
Last Friday the oldest kid's teacher sent me a message that the class was writing letters to their moms and he was having a particularly difficult time getting started with his. Will told her that he just really didn't want to write me a letter and that he already had plans to get me flowers. She said she tried to get his ideas flowing by reminding him how much I love him and all the things I do for him. Then she told him how I was his #1 fan at all of his sporting events. That's when he responded, 'No, actually Cora's my #1 fan; she stands at the fence and yells for me.'
Mother's Day Gift #1 Yes, I realize my son didn't want to take the time to write me a letter. He didn't want to give me the recognition I deserve for all the gas mileage, late nights, snack-packing I do for his games and tournaments and that's just Will and anyone who knows him knows that's just him....But he thought of his sister. His mind and his heart were all about her. Even then in his 3rd grade classroom. One of the most important things that a mom wants for her children is for them to love each other.... really love. For the kid who struggles with showing his emotion, this. made. my. day.
My oldest and youngest have a deep connection and I love it.
So I dried up my eyes real quick from that message and went back to work for the rest of the day. The middle son was off to a friend's house for the evening and the rest of us had a late night baseball game for a tournament Will was playing that weekend. Early Saturday morning I was invited to a church's Mother's Day Breakfast where my father-in-law's amazing homemade waffles would be
Mother's Day Gift #2. Yes, I'm a stingy working mom, as I've mentioned in the past, and I want my kids every second I can have them when I'm not at my job, but this was a gift from my husband and I relished all 50 minutes of it. Afterward, it was a quick trip to Wal Mart (of course) to pick up an order of pictures, and I was back at the mom thing heading to the ball park.
Sometimes holidays like Mother's Day are difficult for many reasons. They tend to open up the flood gates and allow memories to start flowing in. I guess because holidays are specific days where certain traditions usually happen, or you just remember a special memory from that year's day. For me, any holiday triggers my memory bank to spin out of control. This weekend, I kept thinking about my dad, on Mother's Day; weird I know. But one thing my dad did better than anyone I've ever known was make others feel special on their special day. He made everyone feel important. You can imagine how he made me his only daughter feel. So I missed him more than normal this weekend. I miss him more when I'm watching his grandsons play ball and do other things I know he would've loved to see. He adored Will and Cole and I can only imagine the fit he would've thrown when he met his little red head and his other sweet little girl. I would've been second after he met her I know for sure. But this weekend I looked around and saw my mom, Mr. Ronny her boy friend, (first time saying that one!) and my incredibly loving and giving mother and father-in-law. I have so much support it's amazing. Remember the stingy mom thing? I have to turn down Nonnie (my mom-in-law) wanting to help all the time. She seriously loves being with my kids so much it's unbelievable.
Mother's Day Gift #3 Realizing all the help I get and the love my kids are surrounded with.
Then I looked down the chain link fence along the 1st base line and noticed Ronny and some other men standing there leaning against it, chatting, watching the ball game.... and I saw my dad. Clear as day. He always stood along the fence at whatever ball game of my brother's or mine. That's where he was.
Mother's Day Gift #4 God sending my mom another loving, caring man who loves her and all the family that comes with her..... and for leaning against that fence so for just a second I could see my dad.
Later in the day during one of the games, Willbo smacked the fire out of the ball and it landed over the center field fence. I had just decided before the game to stay and watch instead of take the littles home for a nap. I was so glad I stayed.
Mother's Day Gift #5 After the game he showed me the ball and said, 'Here mom this is your Mother's Day gift.' Forget the handwritten letter and flowers, I thought. Way better.
The next morning was church. This was my Sunday to work the 0-6 month nursery and I got to snuggle with a little 4 month old baby girl. It's my once a month baby fix. Afterward I quickly picked up CL and met her Daddo and brothers at the door. Not until after we were in the car down the road did I glance at the little nursery sheet from Cora's teacher. The 'W' and 'BM' were circled (wet and bowel movement) but written to the side it said '(in potty)'. I started screaming. Daddo swerved in the road. The boys yelled 'What Momma?'
Mother's Day Gift #6 A mother's joy when her fourth and youngest child uses the potty in a strange place with a strange person meaning she is really potty training.... it's indescribable.
Then my oldest two boys handed me their creations from Sunday School. On two identical coloring sheets I was once again amazed at how different my boys are. Made from the same two people and raised in the same house, they are so different.
Cole's picture
Will's picture
Front side is because I 'love the Rangers' and the back side is me as a 'Sports Mom.'
Mother's Day Gift #7 My children being themselves and allowing their own identities to shine. From there we got ice cream and headed to the park, as earlier promised.The wind was blowing and it was insanely humid. But we held down our napkins and slurped the melting ice cream in record speed. Not long after playing, CL started her familiar poop stance; tense and quiet. 'Cora did you poop?' I asked. In her absolute shameful face she nodded, 'poop.'
How in the world after just going on the nursery's potty? 'She opened the flood gates,' Daddo insight fully added from the picnic table where he was still sitting in the shade.
And I realized the dilemma, because we were at the ball fields from 9:30 Saturday morning until 9:30 that night, coupled with the fact our small town grocery store closes at 9, we were now completely out of two things at our house; diapers and milk. CL already had on one of the nursery's diapers.
Quick thinking and fourth child mom-moment I grabbed Rhett's pair of Super Man undies and the wipes out of the bag..... voila! My daughter's first time in big girl pants was actually super hero underwear. Worst fourth child thing I've ever done? Nah. That was ingenious.
Successfully back home and littles napping, with youngest one courageously still donning her Clark Kent undies, I saw the opportunity. Groceries! Off I went to Wal-Mart during the only 2-hour kid-less time I would have on Mother's Day. At first I was surprised at the number of women I saw there on the Sunday holiday reserved for mom's rest. Then I realized, holiday or not, moms have to do what moms have to do and the to-do list isn't going to wait for the next work week to pass by.
I had so many gifts for mother's day I almost couldn't count. Not only did I get to experience normal 'mom' things, I was able to do it with the people I love and with other moms I love! We didn't have time for a nice dinner, or a chance to get a pedicure or shopping spree. We were too busy being Momma for all of that other stuff.
Mother's Day Gift #8,9,10,11
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