Mother's Day
Mother's Day was once a very difficult time for me. Every year as it approached, I would spend several hours crying in my therapist's office, wishing I could just ignore the whole event. It wasn't about my mother; it was about me, as a mother. I felt like I was a terrible mother, that I didn't deserve to be recognized or honored on that day. And yet, every year, Mother's Day arrived on little feet carrying weak coffee and runny eggs. As much as I dreaded it, I loved the effort my kids put into it. And eventually, I found my peace with Mother's Day. I learned and accepted that I didn't have to fit the traditional definition of a mother in order to be a good one, and that I could become a better mother as time passed.
This is the third Mother's Day I've been away from all my kids. They are all adults with busy lives. No more runny eggs or burnt toast or recycled coffee. But they have turned into amazing people, hopefully not so much in spite of me, but because of the personal growth I have modeled over the years.
As mothers, we do the best we can with the tools we have. And we strive to gain more tools and be better mothers. And then, just as we come close to mastering motherhood, the rules change and our childrens' needs change, and we have to find new tools. It's still kissing booboos, but these booboos are emotional. It's still teaching them how to share, but now it's sharing their feelings and their dreams. It's still teaching them how to get along with others, but now the others are bosses and partners.
I miss being around my kids. I am proud of the people they have become. I am grateful for all they have taught me.
This is the third Mother's Day I've been away from all my kids. They are all adults with busy lives. No more runny eggs or burnt toast or recycled coffee. But they have turned into amazing people, hopefully not so much in spite of me, but because of the personal growth I have modeled over the years.
As mothers, we do the best we can with the tools we have. And we strive to gain more tools and be better mothers. And then, just as we come close to mastering motherhood, the rules change and our childrens' needs change, and we have to find new tools. It's still kissing booboos, but these booboos are emotional. It's still teaching them how to share, but now it's sharing their feelings and their dreams. It's still teaching them how to get along with others, but now the others are bosses and partners.
I miss being around my kids. I am proud of the people they have become. I am grateful for all they have taught me.