Mother's Day

Our sneaky sleeper: she likes to slip in late in the morning and then slowly squish you out!

On Mother's Day morning I found myself tucked into the futon sleeping late in the office. (Yes!) Then the phone rang and little fingers successfully navigated the the child-lock and in walked the sweetest bit of jammied sunshine you've ever seen. "Mama, de phone!" My sweet mother had called and even though Brian had answered it Aria had woken up in my spot in my bed and brought it to me. How thoughtful, but not the best part: the still slightly-broken-insanely-adorable, "I sleep width you?" question as I pull back the blanket. Oh yes, lets! And those snuggles are more valuable than gold, especially when she lavishes on a few "I luv you, mama." And she sighs. Try not to tear up.

It was a great, rainy-stay-at-home-and-just-be day. Filled with grazing, resting, fort-building, laundry, golf-watching, reading and just out-right relaxing. The kids made me beautiful gifts and showered me with love all through (mostly) the day. I got in a 5-mile run and shamelessly used the its-my-day card to lure the family to the new Thai restaurant I have been itching to try. I am a very, very lucky lady.

Finally, with chores behind me and the kids finally asleep, I called my Mom to wish her a happy Mother's Day. She'd had the same day, full of obligations and welcomed distractions, and we gabbed about what we'd done and our plans for the week. We laughed over the very sincere but entertaining compliment she'd received buying a six-pack from the gas station this week when the clerk couldn't believe her age. Anyone with eyeballs should know my Mom doesn't look even close to her age, nor does she act it. She turns 60 this week and I asked her how she felt about it. "Fine, looking forward to it." She commented that she's happy, takes no prescriptions and is in great health, so why wouldn't she?

Super Nana helping out with the Easter egg hunt.

I wrote to a friend this week the following, "Mother’s Day is hard to really grasp – in my opinion – until you are a parent. That’s when you really see the character and the quality of the person you call ‘Mom’, and it is humbling." My biggest learning thus far is that all mom's are not like mine. Funny, patient, insanely thoughtful, champion-of-humanity, constantly evolving, adventure seeker, sure-I'll-wear-a-red-leather-jacket, who-wants-to-watch-the-game, pass-me-a-another, friends with everyone and oh-lets-just-try-one-more-store --- my mother. I wish everyone were this lucky.

So just a few days short of her 60th birthday it's that attitude from my Mom and best friend helps me understand why I am the way that I am, because that is who she is. If I am good at anything, it is just a nod to her. (And that goes for my Dad and siblings, too.) So when Brian and the kids tell me I am great, it's really my mom who deserves the credit.

Long post, short point: Nana and Mom, you are the best. Happy Mother's Day, we love you. (Cards are in the mail this week, promise!)

Nana and Aria

Nana and Roland