Dear children of mine,
Stores are full of cards, chocolates, and flowers, and restaurants are preparing for a flood of guests all in anticipation of Mother’s Day. I want none of it this year.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mother and cherish you little ones beyond belief. I also love that there is a day to recognize that I am blessed to be your mother, but since you, my dears, are still little, my wishes on Mother’s Day look much different than the traditional gifts stores push you to buy.
Do not buy me flowers. Instead let mom go to Pike’s nursery and look at flowers by myself. Let me take a walk in the neighborhood and enjoy the beauty of spring with no strollers, no whining and no snacks bribing you guys to let mommy finish another mile. Let mom dig in garden without calling my name or screaming at your siblings.
Do not take me to brunch. Mommy has no desire to put on real clothes and wait in long lines for breakfast food that I can have at home. In fact, do not ask me what I want to eat at any point of the day. Just make the decisions for mommy and fix something. Although mommy is good at fixing 21 meals a week for five people, give mom one day where I do not plan, fix, or think about what is next to eat.
Do not buy me gifts, instead let mommy go to Target alone and browse up and down the aisles aimlessly. No car seats to unbuckle, kids lying on the floor in the middle of the store and no pulling things off of the shelves as mommy tries to look will be a gift in itself. Yes, mommy may leave without buying one single item, but it is rare that mommy gets to shop without three kids running around.
Do not buy me chocolates or sweets, unless you are a child genius and have figured how to extract the calories and sugar while keeping it delicious.
On this one day, wake quietly and dress yourselves. Mommy is very tired and would love nothing more than just a little more sleep.
Do give me lots of hugs, kisses and snuggles on this day and every day. Do make me homemade cards full of love and creativity. Do be the lovable littles selves you are and who God has blessed me with.
Writer Bio: Summer Bolte
I spend most of my time and days with my three kids, husband and dog. My kids frequently play near me as I garden, cook, DIY and volunteer. My most unusual paying job has to be feeding fruit flies in a research lab, and my most fulfilling job was being an oncology nurse for seven years.
