Remembering Mother's Day

Lizzi: We just celebrated Mother's Day this past Sunday.
How many years have you celebrated it, as a mother?

Maude: 4 years

Esther:  2 or 3.  Three years if you count being pregnant.

Lizzi: And mine is 3!

Maude: I didn't do anything when I was pregnant - I figured I would celebrate as my last Mother's Day not being a mother instead! Because I will never not be a mother again!

Lizzi: That's a good idea!

Esther:  Haha! So true!

Maude: I like to celebrate all sorts of things! Anything I can, really!

Lizzi: I have recently heard friends say that what they'd like for Mother's Day is to have hubby take the kids and get to spend the day alone. (Relaxing with a book, maybe a day at the spa, etc)
Do you agree? What is your idea of a great Mother's Day gift?


Maude: I don't think I would want to spend Mother's Day alone! Maybe the day before would be nice, though!

Esther: I want to spend Mother's Day with my son.

Lizzi: Okay, totally agree. Glad you guys do, too.

Esther: I wouldn't mind the opportunity to sleep in a little longer or have breakfast in bed!

Maude: I heard about a Mother/Son Dance and thought that would be nice in a year or two.

Lizzi: I mean, I wouldn't argue with a gift certificate to use another time for a massage or pedicure. But nothing can beat being with my family on Mother's Day.

Esther:  Yeah, for Mother's Day I want my baby around. Snuggles & kisses, even if it is with sticky hands.

Maude: It is our chance to be Queen for the Day, but if I am alone I don't feel much like a queen!

Maude: For me I think I would want just a lazy day. Maybe a picnic at a park where we can just hangout. I would prefer to be out of the house probably, but definitely a family day.

Lizzi: So, leading from that, what DID you do this year for Mother's Day?

Esther: I went to my sister-in-law's house for lunch and celebrated Mother's Day with them and my mother and father-in-law.

Maude: I spent it with Mom and my kids (my husband was out of town). We had a day at her home,  talking and playing. Some good meals and no major work allowed (just some food prep and dishes).

Lizzi: Those are both nice!

Esther: The only meal I cooked was breakfast. We picked up food for dinner. Like Maude, my husband was out of town so I didn't do too much.

Maude: I did buy some nice chocolates from a chocolatier for each of us. So when the kids went to bed we talked and indulged in some chocolate.

Esther: I did get a nice gift & card from our brother, Paul, and his wife, Leah, who live in town. It was very thoughtful!

Maude: That is sweet.

Esther: They knew that my husband had to leave town in such a hurry he wasn't able to do anything for me for Mother's Day, so they decided to!

Maude: You've got a pretty good big brother, Esther!

Esther:  Yes, I do !

Lizzi: That is so sweet. We did more on Saturday to celebrate: coffee place to get special drinks and pastries, family hike, playtime at the park, and a picnic. It was so nice! On Sunday, hubby got me another latte (love those, and also that he knows just which one to get me) and then we had a friend's birthday party. And I received a flower bouquet earlier this week, too. Whew! I was spoiled.

Maude: That is sweet. Nice to have your husband home so he can spoil you a little bit, Lizzi!

Lizzi: Yeah, crazy that both of yours were gone!

Lizzi: Do your churches have the kids make things for mom?
I got a hand-made card with a hand-tracing and picture of my son. It's so cute.

Maude: We were at Mom's church, of course, but Milton made a card in Sunday School and during worship time. Also, Mom had had him make a card and got wildflowers for me that he gave me for Mother's Day. That was sweet.

Esther: I was with the 2&3s, so I helped all the kids finger paint a flower picture for their mamas with a little poem on it. They were all so excited to give it to their moms when they came and picked them up.

Lizzi: Aw!

Esther: I was a little sad when Bug got out of his class and didn't have a flower for me. Isn't that silly?

Lizzi: No! That is sad!

Esther: I think they just thought his class was too little.

Lizzi: Yeah, probably. It would have been more work for the helpers. I know our nursery class doesn't do anything either.

Maude: Milton was upset, though, because he had wanted them to write something special on the card but they didn't understand what he wanted, so I said I would do it. He wanted to say, "You're a good policeman, Mom." Which is about the highest compliment he could give me! (He wants to be and dresses up as a policeman all the time!)

Lizzi: Haha! That's funny! And I guess a mom's job description is a little like a policeman, right?

Maude: That would have been crazy for the nursery workers. Maeva didn't have anything for me either. You ought to make a flower thing with Bug yourself.

Esther: That's so cute!

Maude: Then you have that memory too!

Esther:  That's true. We could do that!

Maude: I do feel like a policeman at times!

Esther:  Haha!

Lizzi: You got to go with Mom to the Mother/Daughter banquet, Maude?

Maude: Oh, yes. Actually, that is funny. Milton was (of course!) dressed like a policeman there, too. He walked all around the banquet with a somber face maintaining order. He would walk around our long table and nod to all the ladies and salute me. Then he would stand up by the stage and stare out at the crowd grimly. It was hysterical and SO many ladies commented. He didn't make a sound and wasn't trying to be distracting, he was just taking his job very seriously!

Lizzi: That is hilarious! It is awesome that he understands how to be a policeman so well already!

Maude: So, you can see how his compliment to me was a big deal!!

Lizzi: Yeah!

Maude: Yes, he also stood at attention by the door to guard it sometimes. It was very cute!

Lizzi: Too cute! Was it caught on video, I hope?

Maude: But the banquet went well too. No, my husband asked that and not only did I not have a camera, I totally didn't think about it!! I am really not a camera person!

Esther: I love that story! What a great memory

Lizzi: Yeah, that is really adorable.

Maude: He's a cutie!

Lizzi: As kids, do you think we celebrated our Mom enough?

Maude: I cannot remember that. Probably not, but I don't remember.

Lizzi: I remember getting up early a few times to make her breakfast in bed. You know, cereal, and probably burnt toast! Haha!

Maude: I remember staying up to clean the house to surprise her sometimes, but I don't know if that was specifically for Mother's Day or not.

Esther: I was thinking about the same thing, Liz. I wish I could remember doing something really great and special... but I don't! I remember homemade cards and picked flowers.

Lizzi: So, we definitely tried. But I know I didn't appreciate all her hard work and sacrifices. I still don't know the extent of them, but I know I at least appreciate her more now that I'm a mom.

Maude: I think that is true for everyone, though. How can a kid have any idea all a mom (or dad!) is really doing for them?

Lizzi: Yeah, that's true.

Lizzi: We were certainy very blessed, though. Sometimes I can't believe how much mom sacrificed for us and served us in love.

Maude: That's true. She is a great example to us, isn't she?