Celebrating Motherhood

After 15 Mother's Days, I finally got it right. For 15 years I thought Mother's Day was all about me. I didn't care about gifts. I just wanted a day, one day out of 365, about me. I thought it was a day for getting a well deserved break from motherhood. I thought it was a day for all those wonderful people I work so hard for to show their appreciation by taking over my workload for one day. I expected peace. I expected rest. I expected praise and adoration. I expected too much. 

Not surprisingly, for 16 years I was always disappointed. My husband could never live up to my hopes and dreams for the day. And the kids, couldn't they just not fight, whine and complain for ONE DAY, for me? Even lowering my expectations over the years still led to disappointment. I became a martyr doing tasks because no one ELSE was going to do them and it was MOTHER'S DAY after all! 

Then, for some reason, this year, I had an epiphany. I realized Mother's Day isn't about me, it's about motherhood. It's about celebrating what I do, what I am privileged and grateful to do. So this year, instead of trying to take the day "off" I celebrated motherhood in all it's glory, its messy, loud, busy glory.

And it was the most peaceful, satisfying Mother's Day yet.

(Yes, this was how I ate dinner, of course)

There were still cards and chocolate 

               (curtesy of Dominick)

And my favorite kind of flowers

And a beautiful walk with some of my favorite people

And a wonderful dinner made and cleaned up by my husband.

I am eternally grateful and thankful to be a mother. It's the greatest privelege I've ever had. These last 16 years have been the best of my life and that's worth celebrating.