I have a picture from my childhood. It shows my mother in bed on Mother’s Day with a breakfast tray on her lap and her three children lined up by her side. Years later, she shared with me that she never liked breakfast in bed. She thought it was messy and awkward (but she put up with it for our sakes).
Often Mother’s Day is more about what others want FOR us than what we want for ourselves. It’s undeniable that handmade cards and freshly picked dandelion bouquets are truly one of the best parts of motherhood.
But, what if you could spend the rest of the day doing exactly what YOU wanted to do? What would the day look like?
A group of us recently asked our kids what they thought we wanted for Mother’s Day (the universal answer was flowers). You could see it was a struggle for the kids to think of what to say. Moms just don’t share their wants and needs very often. It’s no wonder that our kids have no idea what we’d like for Mother’s Day (or any other day!).
Apparently, besides flowers, dining out is the number one answer for what moms “want” to do on Mother’s Day. Eighty million Americans (one in four!) eat out, making it the busiest day of the restaurant year (topping even Valentine’s Day). Eating at a crowded restaurant is not my idea of a good time. But, maybe it’s yours.
One year, a friend of mine who has young children asked her husband to take the kids out for Mother’s Day and leave her home alone! It was one of her favorite Mother’s Days ever. Think about it, mommies rarely get the opportunity to enjoy the quiet of an empty house. What a perfect gift!
One year, when my husband and son asked me what I wanted, I said, “A work party to clean the house.” They were dumbfounded and kept asking (begging even) for me to change my mind. I stood firm and at the end of the day I had a perfectly clean home. I loved it. I hate housework. It was the best gift ever.
Another friend has a habit of donning her “martyr tiara” and waiting in silence for her family to read her mind. Whenever I urge her to just tell them what she wants, she responds with, “They should just know.” Needless to say, she is never happy after a holiday.
Mother’s Day is our day, Ladies! Let’s be honest about how we’d like to spend it (no matter how odd our requests may seem to others).
Maybe you’ve always wanted to try glass blowing. Or perhaps you need a spa day with your best friend.
How about going to trapeze class, beachcombing, or getting an hour of uninterrupted time to wander the aisles of your favorite craft store?
Whatever your dreams are for the perfect Mother’s Day – SHARE THEM! Your kids are not mind readers.
And, whatever you end up doing, we here at All Mom Does wish you the very happiest of Mother’s Days!
