Mother's Day Traditions

M... is for the million things she gave me,

O... means only that she's growing old,

T... is for the tears she shed to save me,

H... is for her heart of purest gold;

E... is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

R... means right, and right she'll always be.


Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

Last year I wrote a tribute to my dear mother. She deserves much praise and honor. I am forty years old and still have a hard time believing I am a mother. Sometimes I feel I am just playing at this role, but at heart I am still just a young girl. Do you ever feel that way?

When I was a mother of young children, Mother's Day was not much different for me than any other day. I cooked, I cleaned, wiped noses and bottoms. However, one year I remember a good friend of mine offering to babysit my toddler daughters for a few hours. When I returned home, there was a T shirt spread out on the table decorated with 'still wet' pink little hand and foot prints and a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY message written in colored glue across the top. I still wear this shirt every year. I remember feeling so grateful for that gift. That friend lives thousands of miles away from me and is still dear to my heart today.

If you are a mother of young children maybe you could begin a tradition with your family. Don't feel bad if you suggest it, yourself. Sometimes, a husband needs help because he just doesn't understand fully the thoughts of a woman. In our home, every year, we visit a nursery and choose flowers to plant in pots on our windowsills and balcony. I don't allow myself to buy flowers before this date. I asked for this tradition and my family obliged me. It's so nice to have something certain and beautiful to look forward to every Mother's Day. I know that my husband is happy that the plan is made in advance. My own mother buys a new wind chime every year. What do you like?

If your children have left the nest, or are still too young to show their love, please make sure that you experience something lovely on this day, even if you have to go to the local grocery store and buy your own bouquet of flowers. It's okay. Have a beautiful Mother's Day!