By By Michelle Blaylock, Mom’s Corner
I had someone ask me this week what has been my favorite Mother’s Day gift. I replied with, “I’m not sure. I’ve never given it any thought..” Of course, the question made me start thinking about not just the Mother’s Day gifts my husband and children have given to me, but all the other gifts I’ve been given as a Mom over the years. (Warning: you might want to sit down for this one.)
My favorite gifts are not the ones I’ve received for birthdays, Christmases, or Mother’s Day. Oh, to be sure there are some very special ones from those holidays, but my most favorite gifts are the gifts given to me just because my husband or my children thought of me on some random day. I guess I look at it this way; if I am only remembered because it is a special day then perhaps it is the day that is being thought of and not me. I do not want my children to remember me or think of me out of obligation, I want them to do it out of love. So following that train of thought, here are some of my favorite gifts my children either have given or still give to me. (Not it any particular order.)
1. A hug. (Just randomly.)
2. The bunch of flowers gathered on a walk. (OK, some flowers, some weeds, all pretty — hopefully none from a neighbor’s yard?!)
3. Handprints. (Some with poems, a few on walls, doors, and occasionally clothes.)
4. When my husband moved to Alabama my older son (a early riser) got up about 6 or 7 a.m. almost everyday of his summer vacation and gave my youngest son his bottle and let me get an extra hour or so of sleep. (They are still great buddies!)
5. My husband remembering the kids have been sick all week and picking up a discount bouquet of flowers as he buys more Sprite and Pedialyte.
6. My 20-year-old remembering Mom really likes raspberry filled donuts and buying one for me just because she happened to think of it.
7. My kids snuggling with me while we watch a favorite show.
8. A picture that is drawn and given to me just because it was a good day to draw a picture.
9. My husband remembering I have been on the go all week and brings home pizza.
10. My kids fighting over who gets to tell me about their day first. (OK, it is a strange way to think of it, but they are thinking of me and wanting to share something of themselves with me.)
11. When I have a migraine, my children being extra special good and quiet. (If you don’t think that is a gift, you just don’t understand a migraine.)
12. My husband and children just occasionally sending me a quick text that says, “luv u” just because they thought of it.
There are many more, but you get the idea. Yes, the gifts I get for “special” days are important to me, but my husband and children just randomly thinking of me is probably the most special gift of all.
I hope you have a great Mother’s Day. If you have a question or comment for Mom’s Corner, please e-mail it to: moms-corner@juno.com