That one day a year I have permission to do nothing

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, or maybe it was Valentine’s Day? Honestly, it felt a little unclear by the display in Target…rows of flowers, rose wine and champagne, chocolates, and DIY face masks. Maybe that’s the secret undertone of Mother’s Day all along – loving yourself enough to take a break? Romance? Seems like there’s a lot of opportunity for improvement with that marketing strategy. IMO nothing says Happy Mother’s Day more than giant banners advertising an all-inclusive no kids/no husbands allowed Mexican resort...right!? I’m joking…kind of…I’d miss them too much…

I don’t like to go into any holiday with enormous expectations that only I find important…talk about setting yourself up for failure! If no one in my family made their appreciation known except for one random day in the middle of May, then we have bigger problems that cannot be solved with a bouquet of roses once a year.

To celebrate the occasion my way, I had only two essential items on my list this year:

1.       First - Some kind of surprise. I didn’t care what, I just wanted to know that there would be something unexpected to look forward to. Maybe that’s a card when Chris and I don’t normally exchange cards, maybe it’s a gift that I didn’t pick out for myself, or maybe it’s something fun my family planned. Honestly, it didn’t matter how big or small and I wasn’t expecting anyone to move mountains with the quarantine and all.

2.       Second - For my hubs to take the lead. It’s not like I booked a whole day at the spa or never got out of bed, but I just wanted to know that he would take the lead to find out why Gigi was whining, or take the lead to clean up when the dog threw up on the carpet, or take the lead to make Gigi lunch without me having to prod him do to anything of these things.

And you know what? It was a great success! Chris surprised me by making a very creative breakfast recipe he has never tried before; Nutella crepes with strawberries and bananas, and he took the lead with Gigi all day. Honestly, it was very lovely.

Despite the fact that I’m not falling all over with sentimentality and unrealistic expectations for this made up holiday I do absolutely love being a mother. It’s my lifelong dream actually, and one that did not come easy. We struggled with infertility for years and with a miscarriage and failed IVF cycle after we had our daughter, it’s not something I take for granted.

Happy Mother’s Day --

Xoxo Kelly



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