u when i remembered i already had (two years ago on mysp
ace). reprinting here 'cos it says what i wanted to say.
Current mood:
thoughtful it's about to be mother's day, which for most folks is the day to take your mom out to brunch, or bring /send her flowers or a card. you can't escape it with the relentless onslaught of commercials on the radio or TV, the massive card displays in stores, the general hype.
if your mom's still with you, that's probably not a bad thing -- it's easy to forget to send things on time, and who doesn't like a reminder for something you actually want to do?
if your mom has passed on, it comes with a bit of a sting. you think of all the things you wish you could bring her, even cards that would be just right for this year, if you could figure out what address would actually get them there.
i know a lot of folks who plain hate the day and think it's just one more commercialized excuse to make money off people's guilt or love or willingness to spend. some folks don't even notice, or care.
but if you think of all the ways the very idea of MOTHERING runs through women's lives -- whether they are women who raised kids who surround them each year, or kids who live far away and don't get home much, or kids who just don't keep in touch as much as their moms wished; or women who didn't raise children because they weren't able to have any, or waited too long and missed the window, or lost what children they carried to miscarriage, abortion, adoption or divorce -- perhaps you get a larger sense of all the things the very word encompasses.
now i think of it as MOTHERS Day, without the apostrophe, as a celebration of the plural rather than the single. it's an opportunity to salute all the women, still here or passed on, who loved unconditionally, as best they could, whatever young person was in their life, for whatever length of time -- whether a child they bore, or one they raised or a kid they just happened to love. that includes grandmothers, aunts, teachers, other people's moms, sisters, friends, colleagues and strangers.
on mothers' days past, my church used to hand out flowers to all women, young and old, which struck me as both insightful and kind, since it hinted at past and future and the fact that many women's stories of MOTHERING aren't as easy to know, unless they tell you, but the simple odds are that most women have, or one day will, give of themselves to a child or children they love.
i'm glad there's a day that people remember, and tell the women in their lives THANK YOU, or i noticed / remembered / and wanted to make sure i told you so.
cheers to all the women who have mothered, whether it's something they are honored for or not; to all those who are mothering now, as well as those who have yet to mother but consider it something they will one day do. sweetness and honor be yours, in memory and gratitude.
if your mom's still with you, that's probably not a bad thing -- it's easy to forget to send things on time, and who doesn't like a reminder for something you actually want to do?
if your mom has passed on, it comes with a bit of a sting. you think of all the things you wish you could bring her, even cards that would be just right for this year, if you could figure out what address would actually get them there.
i know a lot of folks who plain hate the day and think it's just one more commercialized excuse to make money off people's guilt or love or willingness to spend. some folks don't even notice, or care.
but if you think of all the ways the very idea of MOTHERING runs through women's lives -- whether they are women who raised kids who surround them each year, or kids who live far away and don't get home much, or kids who just don't keep in touch as much as their moms wished; or women who didn't raise children because they weren't able to have any, or waited too long and missed the window, or lost what children they carried to miscarriage, abortion, adoption or divorce -- perhaps you get a larger sense of all the things the very word encompasses.
now i think of it as MOTHERS Day, without the apostrophe, as a celebration of the plural rather than the single. it's an opportunity to salute all the women, still here or passed on, who loved unconditionally, as best they could, whatever young person was in their life, for whatever length of time -- whether a child they bore, or one they raised or a kid they just happened to love. that includes grandmothers, aunts, teachers, other people's moms, sisters, friends, colleagues and strangers.
on mothers' days past, my church used to hand out flowers to all women, young and old, which struck me as both insightful and kind, since it hinted at past and future and the fact that many women's stories of MOTHERING aren't as easy to know, unless they tell you, but the simple odds are that most women have, or one day will, give of themselves to a child or children they love.
i'm glad there's a day that people remember, and tell the women in their lives THANK YOU, or i noticed / remembered / and wanted to make sure i told you so.
cheers to all the women who have mothered, whether it's something they are honored for or not; to all those who are mothering now, as well as those who have yet to mother but consider it something they will one day do. sweetness and honor be yours, in memory and gratitude.
This really speaks to me - I'm acknowledging I spend way too much time focusing on what could be better than on what actually IS when it comes to my mother... I'm glad I spent Mothers' Day with her and with my own little boy, and am making a conscious promise to honour the good a little more often! Thank you!
ReplyDeletefor some reason i can't figure out blogr isn't letting me know when a comment comes in -- so i just saw yr note NOW....: (
ReplyDeleteglad you had a sweet day with yr mom and beautiful baby boy and *got* me
<3