I am not big on commemorative days. For all sorts of reasons. Why should there be one specific day to celebrate something/someone? I mean, do you feel more in love on February 14? Are you less of a mother worthy of celebration on the remaining 364 days? Maybe I would feel less strong about it if it were celebrated in a simpler way. Not in the lets-buy-some-more-commercial-crap-to-show-our-love-on-the-day-we-are-supposed-to kinda thing.
That being said, when the kids gave me their handmade mother day gifts last Friday my vision became temporarily blurry as well. And although I didn’t get to see my mother yesterday I too wished her a happy mother’s day. And when Omi (my German grandmother) came to the phone I wished her happy mother’s day too and told her that if it weren’t for her none of us would be here right now (for all intents and purposes I left all the males out of the equation). And yes, subconsciously I hoped for a day full of flowers, hugs, kisses, mommy awards etc. Instead I got a Sunday, similar to any other family day of the year. Let me paint you a picture:
- Early wake up by the little guy outside in a soiled diaper followed by Yianni’s daily homework
battletiming vs sleeping in - Siblings fighting over who gets the bigger egg for breakfast vs breakfast in bed
- Struggling to convince the kids that I am not their slave/housemaid/personal cook while yelling at them to clean their mess up vs the family enjoying some quality time while peacefully playing HOTEL
- Trying to unhook the little guy’s
clawshands from my legs so I can prepare hislong overduelunch while screaming at N. that he needs to take him NOW vs enjoying lunch on the seafront with all three kids behaving impeccably - Blabbering something like this is not how I imagined to spend the day to N. with him replying that I should have told him it was important to me and he would have made the effort #MEN vs a joined effort of N. & the kids to surprise me with, well, anything
- Dancing with the kids in our living room vs dancing with the kids in our living room
- Iliana cited a poem she learned by heart and I was so moved I had to record it. Three. Times. Yiannis borrowed my phone, inserted the correct grammar spell check and typed up a note with how he feels about me vs nothing would beat that
You know. Reality vs picture perfect & utterly unrealistic family moments. And it got me thinking. Why should I waste my time thinking of the things I would like to have instead of the things I am actually blessed to have?
Let’s be authentic and impulsive and appreciative of each other EVERY day. Doesn’t that sound much better?
Until next time
love
tatu
wonderland by tatu 
Oh yes it does sound SO much better Tatu mou!
I missed reading yet another of your posts!
And I so much enjoyed it, as it clearly speaks of the magic of practicing gratefulness every day, (without even making any reference to the very word) while completely avoiding being patronizing (like most posts out there) and while coming from a person faced with challenges that to the mainstream eye seem minor (compared to like serious health issues or catastrophes) yet by being so compulsively ongoing they can surely drive you to madness after a while.
I really enjoy reading your stories, as they truly are inspiring, they are life teachings like coming from some worshiped guru, and at the same time they are written with no intention to work as such whatsoever!
Keep writing, you don’t just offer yourself a therapy (besides cooking that is), but to all the rest of us!!!
I can’t even begin to describe how much your comment means to me. I feel honored and blessed to have such a caring friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind and loving words. I am glad that my reality gives others some comfort. That was the whole point of this blog. To be honest and real and make others feel less lonely when they are facing their own parenting struggles.
One big hug to you my friend. Hope to see you soon xxx
Το καλύτερο κείμενο μακράν που διάβασα για την ημέρα της μητέρας…! 🙂
Σε ευχαριστω πολύ Νίκη, με τιμά ιδιαίτερα αυτό. Ίσως γιατί ειναι αληθινό…σου εύχομαι δύναμη και υπομονή για τις λιγότερες όμορφες στιγμές της μητρότητας λοιπόν xxx
I love what you said about being authentic and impulsive and appreciative of every day. So true! And though it is nice to treat people on special occasions, I completely agree that you are a mother every day, not just mother’s day, you are in love every day, not just valentine’s day. Every day is a special day.
Yes, every day is a special day. We need to remind ourselves of that. Even on ‘rainy’ days. Finding the good in any situation. That is the key to appreciate life xxx
Hello darling T, so lovely to see a post from you again.
Ah! don’t you just love those days the world has designated as special: for lovers, for mothers, for fathers, even grandparents and teachers.
I tell my kids everyday is mother’s day, now clean your room, wipe the bathroom counters( they’re old enough to be doing so) take the garbage out and everyday is also Father’s Day, sibling’s day etc. I did have breakfast in bed, mostly because my youngest likes to cook, plan and decorate. She made me chocolate covered strawberries and a bouquet of flowers and cards etc. That made it all worthwhile. I did have to raise my voice to have the laundry folded though, Sigh. Just like any other day.
Sending you kisses and hugs
I missed you too! Your breakfast sounds divine, especially the strawberry chocolate part 😉 Maybe we wouldn’t cherish the special moments so much if we had an abundance of them. So yes, enjoy the pampering while it lasts.
Hope you are well! Take care my friend xxx
I’m with you on this. I do think it is nice to especially take notice but the commercialism aspect can go to far. Yet, I do like getting my wife a little something as a token of appreciation.
P.S. I haven’t heard from you in soooooo long.
Oh Larry, I have been gone way toooo long..I ll make an extra effort to be back more often. How are you?
P.S. Your wife is lucky to have such a thoughtful husband
Thoughtful – I try.
Doing okay. I’ll try and email you to catch up.