Mother's Day is Sunday.
It can be such a wonderful day, full of celebration for all that having a mom and being a mom entails. It can also be a day of great sadness for many.
For those people who grieve the loss of a mother or a child, Mother's Day can be one full of heartache. For those people who battle infertility, this day, and all the commercialism that comes with it, can be torturous.
While being a mom can bring unbelievable joy to our lives, feelings of loss and want can bring depths of sadness like we've never known. I think of Mother's Day as an opportunity to celebrate and to remember the significant women in our lives. Whether it is heartache or joy you are experiencing, this day can be one of reminiscing and sharing memories with our loved ones.
Women are known to be caregivers, aren't we? We instinctively know how to "fix" a skinned knee or help heal a broken heart. We know the perfect way to rock our babies to sleep and we know our teenagers' favorite food.
Women, typically speaking, anticipate others' needs and very often put those needs in front of our own. It's not just a biological mom who touches your life and leaves a lasting impression -- think about your grandmothers, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, teachers and friends.
I had the pleasure of attending Salisbury University's Relay For Life event Friday. A good friend of mine was speaking about his role as caregiver for his mom as she battled cancer.
That's such a difficult position to imagine ourselves in. At the time of his mom's diagnosis, my friend was 37 -- a grown adult. What impacted me the most from his speech was his admission that, as a grown man, after hearing his mom's diagnosis, he remembers asking the question, "How in the world am I supposed to live without my mother?" He spent the next four months helping take care of the woman who brought him into this world.
That was 16 years ago, and the emotion was still raw.
As mothers, what more could we ask for? We raise our children with the hope that they will learn how to take care of themselves and, more importantly, that they will learn how to take care of others. I watched my own mom take such great care of her mother, my Nana. The time, energy and care she showed her only reminded me of what a wonderful mother she is.
So how do we recognize the fabulous women in our lives who mean so much to us? We can follow the lead of many who have helped make Mother's Day a billion-dollar holiday.
According to Forbes Magazine, we spend approximately $2.7 billion in restaurants on Mother's Day. Gifts of jewelry top $2.3 billion and flowers $1.9 billion. We spend $1.5 billion on gift cards as presents.
I was surprised to learn that Mother's Day greeting cards comprise only 2 percent of the industry's revenue, a much lower figure than I had expected. While these are fine gifts to give mom, I have a few other ideas I'd like to share.
I love handmade cards. Nothing is any sweeter than the simple, honest message from a child in their own handwriting.
One year, my husband had my children think of reasons why they love me. He helped them write down about six reasons apiece and tied each one into a mini scroll. They decorated a jar, placed the scrolls inside and labeled it "The Reasons We Love Mommy." It is one of my most cherished possessions.
The jar sits on my dresser and is a daily reminder of the love I share with my kids. Why not send your mom a handwritten note or letter sharing a special memory you have of her?
Pictures make great gifts, too. Another year my husband took my children (they were 4 and 7 at the time) to the mall for a portrait. The picture is wonderful, but the element of surprise for me is what makes it priceless. I had no idea what they were up to.
You don't have to get a professional picture taken. Just pick a favorite spot in the yard and take your own photo. Taking the time to print and frame it for your loved one is so meaningful.
A few years ago, my family started a new tradition. All the moms got together for brunch on Mother's Day. What a wonderful way to spend time with the women in our lives who mean so much to us.
We eat, laugh and share silly stories. My husband's grandmother told me it has become one of her favorite Mother's Day celebrations.
However you spend the day -- surrounded by loved ones, by yourself for some much needed alone time, shedding a tear or two -- my wish for you is to take a moment to pay tribute to the women in your life who have made you who you are today. Happy Mother's Day!
And thank you, Mom. Thank you for your unconditional love and for showing me what it truly means to be a mother.
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