May 12, 2019 – Mother’s Day. A whole day dedicated to moms. All over social media today I saw matching outfits and loving praise for mothers. Words of thanks to moms, and to husbands and children for their efforts today in celebrating motherhood. And it’s all beautiful. But let me throw you the curve ball of honesty: it’s still another day as a mom. Good, bad, or otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about Mother’s Day, and I am in no way throwing shade – I just thought I’d show a little glimpse into the reality of my motherhood, and another day in the life. Because celebrations or not – we’re still momming today. And momming is hard y’all.
Three out of four kids had a sleepover at Grandma’s last night with their cousins, so my early riser was out of the house. Because we didn’t have church until 11:30, I decided to forego my alarm and slept in a bit. As per the usual lately, Tenley had joined us in our bed mid-night. I woke up to Tenley playing the video on my phone of her confused little toddler voice asking, “I have a penis?... (No, that’s not what it’s called) Aubwee have a penis?...” Following that video, she played the one where Aubrey refers to the people who canceled her T-ball game with a choice word, so she then lay in bed repeating “ah-hole”. Although we had plans to join my family for breakfast before church, I wanted to stay in bed just a little longer and finally convinced Tenley to stop playing videos and busy herself making me some breakfast in her kitchen. She returned with the wooden salad dressing and sugar, plastic peas in a pan, and the end of a toy caterpillar. A truly gourmet breakfast in bed. Thankfully those sticky buns were still waiting at my parents’.
In addition to Mother’s Day, we also had the pleasure of celebrating my oldest’s first communion today, so we were entertaining our families at home after church. After breakfast we rushed home to finish lunchtime preparations and get ready. With too much on my mind, I got dressed last as everyone else was ready to head out the door. I put on my dress and decided to lotion my legs quickly - only to find that I had forgotten to shave them. I remedied that by throwing on a pair of pantyhose, and it only took me 2 pairs to find one without a run – hallelujah! As I bent to put my heels on in the garage, I realized that my dress had seemingly shrunk on the hanger. I hate it when that happens. Had I been going to the club (have I ever done that?), the length would not have been a problem – but in God’s house, I figured I should at least be able to bend over and pick up a child without a free show. After trying the only pair of slacks I still own – only to find they too had shrunk, I settled on a dress that must be magic because it actually still fit the way I remembered.
Our first communion celebrations went off without a hitch. After everyone left, I left the dishes and managed to take a nap with Tenley. I don’t even remember the last time I took a nap that wasn’t in the passenger seat of a car. I woke a couple hours later wondering what I missed. Tenley joined the kids outside and Aubrey and I snagged bowls of ice cream without anyone noticing we were spoiling our dinner.
As moms with never-ending to-do lists, I decided to try to get a few things done tonight. I spent at least 30 solid minutes looking for my laptop charger – to no avail. Frustrated, after a long week, I came unraveled and cried. Over a laptop charger. How ridiculous. Worse yet, it soured my mood for at least twice as long and I was crabby and irritable at my kids on Mother’s Day.
I’m {clearly} not a perfect mom. I didn’t have a perfect breakfast in bed, I take videos of my kids using inappropriate language and try really hard not to laugh. I let my emotions get the best of me. Even on a day meant to celebrate motherhood, life is not perfect.
In the midst of it all today, I found myself grateful. Especially grateful for my kids, when I texted a friend my prayer that it be her last Mother’s Day without a child of her own. And incredibly grateful for a mom who can be here with us today, when I have a dear friend who can’t say the same. While a day of celebration for many, today highlights hardships for many others. I think it’s important to remember, whether your celebrations were grand or not, as moms, our simple existence is cause to be grateful. So it’s okay if your day wasn’t perfect and no one made you breakfast or did your dishes. But I hope you took some time to be grateful and to celebrate all that you are. Even if all of you no longer fits in your favorite lace dress.