MOMents – Mother’s Day

Spoil the moms in your life today.

Some people consider Mother’s Day to be a trumped up holiday where prices are cranked up at restaurants that know everyone will be scrambling for a special meal not cooked or cleaned up by a mother.

Certainly some of that is true: people rush out for cards and there are roses for sale on the sides of the road for those who forgot.

But I say even if it is trumped up or “Hallmarked” it is still useful to take the day to consider all that mothers do. In fact, my biggest complaint is that it is only one day. I often think I should just declare a few more such days in the year, or perhaps more often.

Our lives are getting crazier and there is little sacred time left. Sporting events and homework will not stop so that families can enjoy Mother’s Day. Our smart phones don’t grant us much rest from whatever request anyone wants to make of us at any time of day.

I believe that even if Mother’s Day and other holidays have a bit of commercialism, they are still important dates to stop and reflect on the things and relationships that are important. They serve as reminders to us in the midst of hectic lives. We can choose to make them meaningful versus commercial.

Mothers should be spoiled on Mother’s Day because in doing so, everyone else will realize how good they have it on the other days of the year. Moms deserve a day off from food shopping, cooking, cleaning or whatever are their least favorite parts of mothering so they can maximize their enjoyment of their most favorite parts. Usually that is enjoying time, having fun with the ones they love most.

Sometimes it means getting out and doing something special that does not happen every day. It might mean someone else made the plans and the decisions.

While moms are getting a day off from the grunt work, someone else should do it. And, if no one enjoys those parts of the day, they should be especially thankful that most days of the year a mom handles it for them. Maybe they should give mom a break more often, pitch in a bit more.

But, don’t give Mom a day off and let everything wait for her tomorrow. There is nothing worse than facing twice as much laundry the next day to make the whole thing feel like a farce.

If your mom is no longer with you, take some time to remind yourself and others about her virtues. Spend some time with your memories.