Mother's Day... Sometimes I hate it.

I have a love-hate relationship with Mother's Day. Mostly, I love to hate it. I resent the commercialism around it and the implication that I want or need expensive gifts to feel appreciated. I don't. I don't need a steak lunch; I don't even need a special day. I would hate it if I only felt appreciated on one day of the year. I would hate it if my mothers only felt like I appreciated them on one day of the year. I try to make sure they know how much I appreciate them regularly. I celebrate Mother's Day every day of the year - sure, sometimes it's with a prayer of thanksgiving that the monkeys are finally asleep at night, but if every day was fabulous, I would take it for granted. Dave does a great job of recognizing the work I do and thanking me for it regularly. I'd much rather find all of the laundry washed and folded and the dishwasher emptied on random days of the year than wait an hour and a half on a special day at an overcrowded restaurant to receive an expensive present that some radio commercial says I need. I also struggle to balance the pressure to recognize my mothers (with food and gifts and time) and the desire to claim the day for myself. Because, even though I'd rather be appreciated all of the days of the year, I still want to be appreciated on the made up holiday that's supposed to be for me. See? Love-hate. I thank the greeting card and jewelry industries for making me irrational about it.

Maybe it's just me. But luckily, I have a baby daddy who knows how to speak to my heart.

My Mother's Day started Saturday morning at 6:30ish when Ella came out of her bedroom fully dressed, asking me to button her shorts. I did so, gladly, thankful that I didn't have to get up to help her put her clothes on. This was the very first time she's gotten up, picked her clothes, and put them on with no prompting at all.

Luke was in our bed, so he woke up when Ella came in. Dave asked them if they wanted to load up and go somewhere and they consented. He dressed Luke and took them out of the house.

I never had to leave the bed. This has never happened before.

I went back to sleep until almost 8 (!). Then I got up and showered all by myself without anyone playing in the water, asking me questions, or yelling through the locked bathroom door. Then I sat on the back porch and read and drank two cups of coffee. I had the pleasure of listening to Dave and the kids unload from the car when they got home. I love to hear them talking to each other when they don't know I'm listening.

We spent a low key day at the house. Ella and I took our recycling to the recycling center (she loves to help with that job), then we picked up Luke and went to the grocery store. After that, Ella helped me make lasagna for our Sunday night supper. She was in charge of the cheese layers and she helped clean up the mess. She has gotten to be quite helpful around the house - taking her laundry to the hamper, feeding the animals, putting our recyclables in the bins, cleaning up messes, and occasionally helping distract Luke when I really need to finish something and he's needing attention.

I thought I had gotten the best Mother's Day present in the three hours to myself first thing in the morning, but I was wrong. It came Saturday evening when I had the pleasure of watching Ella and Luke walking across the porch with presents they had picked for me in their hands. They each had a card and a gift and they were so excited about it. Luke handed me his and told me, "Tank choo, Mommy!" Such sweetness. They had been to Target that morning to shop for me. Ella picked a hilarious necklace that I told her I will wear around the house but not to church and a card that she loved so much she's been carrying it around with her. She signed it herself, so I'll have to confiscate it at some point to put in her keep box. Luke had help picking his gift and he also gave me a card that he "signed". It makes monkey sounds; it's completely appropriate. I hope I never lose that image of them coming across the porch with their presents, so excited to give them to me.

Dave cooked breakfast for us Sunday morning and then we had a full day of church followed by lunch at Aunt Becca's with Grandmother and supper at our house with Grandma. Dave did most of the kitchen clean up after supper.

That man is amazing. I had a great day celebrating my mothers on Sunday, and he did things that were just for me throughout the weekend.

So, Mother's Day. Sometimes I hate it, but not this year.