TO THE MOM WHOSE MOTHER’S DAY SUCKED

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If your day was filled with whining, tantrum-throwing, ungrateful little children then your Mother’s Day probably sucked as bad as mine.

Two days out of the year. That’s all I ask for.  Two days I don’t want to wipe any butts, listen to any whining, or prepare any food that most likely will go untouched. My birthday and Mother’s Day.

Day in and day out mom’s run the show. We  clean up, wipe tears, hustle the kids from appointments to activities, bathe them, cook for them, nurture every need. Generally we do it well. Moms are the doers of all things. There’s nothing we can’t handle. Sure we have hard days. It’s all that we do and all that we handle that gives us the right to deserve one day to be appreciated for all the things.

That day rolls around and we’re greeted with little smiley faces handing us homemade cards and little gifts of love. Determined to take a day off I sit back with my hot coffee, for a change, and let my husband feed them, bathe them, watch them while I head to Target to enjoy a couple hours of kid-free solitude.

Sounds perfect right?

Except that my coffee didn’t stay hot long enough for me to enjoy it because of multiple tantrums over every little thing. Somehow I end up feeding a child who has no idea what he wants.

Banana? Yes! Screams bloody murder while I open it. Guess he doesn’t want it.

Strawberries? Yes! After a couple bites it’s no longer good enough.

Cheese stick? Yes! One bite later it’s thrown in my face with complete disdain.

The day progresses on the same way.

Eventually we get to bedtime and the tantrums were at an all time high leaving me in tears. The guilt ran through me as I replayed the day. Replayed the horrible behavior of my toddlers. Replayed my raised voice and quick snaps.

One day is all I wanted.

But at the end of the day as I rocked my baby to sleep with tears in my eyes and quiet sobs trying not to disturb him I realized just how selfish I was being. These two little people count on me day after day. As moms we pride ourselves in being able to run our households like pros. We can anticipate our kids needs before they even know what they want.

My kids don’t know Mother’s Day like the one we dream of in our minds. Sure they give us cute gifts and sweet little kisses, but I can only imagine the frustration and confusion they must feel seeing us sitting there attempting to do nothing for them.

Next year will be different. Next year I’ll welcome the little gifts and sweet embraces and go about our day as we normally would. Because that’s motherhood. Taking the good and the bad, loving them unconditionally. As for tonight, I’ll wipe my tears away as I sneak back into their rooms and give them one more kiss asking them to forgive me for how I acted today.

Thank you to my sweet husband for trying to make today perfect. You did everything right. Next year I’ll be better.