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Mother’s Day pros and cons

Once again, Mother’s Day, complete with its great expectations, has come and it has gone.

Once again, Mother’s Day, complete with its great expectations, has come and it has gone.

The day, itself, is relatively new, initiated at the turn of the century by an innovative young woman who wanted simply to recognize her mom who had passed away.

Apparently, this young lady invited a few friends over to help her recognize and honour her mom, not having any idea that her idea would be the lightbulb that would spark dollar signs in the commercial world.

Before she knew it, greeting card companies (sorry Hallmark) and florists (flowers say it best) caught on to the idea and the famous Mother’s Day holiday was created.

Of course, Mother’s Day, like any other holiday brings with it all sorts of unseen problems.

The other siblings come through with the best gifts, raising the bar ridiculously high. And then there is the family who all decide to get together to buy mom the perfect gift.

Sounds good! But then somebody forgets to pay.

The other ones will pick up the tab, but, more often than not, they won’t do so happily, and in their mind they remember when that particular sibling always snuck away to the bathroom when it was time for dishes.

They dream of ways to get even.

Another scenario which should not, but could, because of the imperfect world in which we live, be one where ungrateful and/ or busy children, husbands or significant others forget Mother’s Day entirely.

Later they will kick themselves, phone and apologize, and mom, who is quick to forgive, will say it’s okay.

But chances are good to excellent she will not for- get.

Other unfortunate incidents which may upset the Mother’s Day apple cart could include poor, exhausted florists who mis-calulate their orders, run out of flowers, close early, and succumb to liquid refreshment and forget even their own mother.

Other possible, but highly unlikely scenarios brought on only by my imagination include the following!

It is five minutes to closing and two people are racing to get a Mother’s Day card. They give into road rage, an accident occurs, only minor injuries result, but the police are called. Meanwhile the store closes. No one, the cops included, gets their mom a card. Mom is mad, disappointed and hurt.

But, because moms are the same as everyone else, and know they are less than perfect, they are quick to forgive.

But, for some reason, probably because they are simply human, they are less likely to forget.

Of course, best case scenario, all of the above is avoided, mom is happy with her gift, the attention, and her kids, no matter what their age, know in their hearts they did well, rose to the occasion and now they can go home and watch their choice of sports.

As for me, I am so blessed to be a mom and a grandma who is loved and spoiled not just on Mother’s Day, but always, that I feel quite humbled and slightly bewildered as to why I am so lucky.

I joined the ranks of motherhood on a cold and snowy day in November.

I was not awake when my son came into the world, but only became aware of his existence when the nurse’s voice interrupted the lovely darkness where I had been quite happily floating. “Mrs. Mielke, you have a baby boy,” she said.

Still groggy from the anesthetic I remember thinking, “I’m a Mrs. I have a baby? Wow!

And then I immediately felt exhausted.

And here it is more than 40 years later and I still feel exhausted, but, oh, so lucky and so very grateful for Mother’s Day and the fact that I am a mom and a grandma.

For me, at least, it truly doesn’t get any better!