Mother’s Day In Review

As a small child, Mother’s Day made no sense. Mother is the person who knows my needs before I know them. She is prepared for my next meal, my next change, and when I need a nap. She knows what to do when I am fussy or ill and cleans up my messes. She does that seven days a week, so how do I understand Mother’s Day?

As a teenager, my mother is the person I trust to be on my side when I want something or if I have done something that my dad may not understand. She will love and forgive me for everything. She is always there when I need something. It is good to let her know each year on Mother’s Day that I appreciate her.

As a young adult, my mother is who I tell first that I am getting married. I know she wants me to be happy, and I hope she will learn to love her as her Daughter-in-law and accept her as part of the family. My mother is the person who showed me qualities to look for in choosing my mate. Mother’s Day is a day we would split between her mother and my mother to say, “We love you and thank you.”

As a parent, I watched my wife eagerly take on the role of the mother of our children and share with me the “firsts” that occurred when I was not there. Our mothers became grandmothers to our children and provided another layer of love and sharing. Babysitting, reading books, making cookies, and solving puzzles are activities shared by the grandmother. There were those days that included disappointments and tough times we shared together. Mother’s Day was a day that had greater meaning and a time to thank God for His blessings.

As a grandparent, watching our daughters with their children and my wife take on the role of grandmother made me happy. Each new generation is the next shift in the cycle of life. I saw Eva share activities with our grandchildren with the same love and enthusiasm our mothers showed to our daughters. Mother’s Day became a special day.

Even after my mother passed away, Mother’s Day remained special as we honored Eva’s contributions to our family and our daughters for being wonderful mothers. When Eva’s mother passed away, we would take time to talk about our memories of our mothers, and sometimes they would be early memories, and others would be about events later in life.

Eva’s dad called her mother “momma,” and I never heard my dad call my mother “momma”. Eva never wanted me to call her “momma,” and I never did, not even to tease her. I was fortunate to have a mother who loved her four children and lived an amazing life. I grew to love and respect my mother-in-law. God blessed me more than I deserved with Eva as my mate for 58 years and a wonderful family.

This is the third Mother’s Day when Eva is not with me physically; however, she is never out of my mind.

I hope this Mother’s Day is the best for all mothers, new and old.