Word to my mother

I went to the store to buy Mother’s Day cards this week and found the selection disappointing at best, annoying at worst. An entire wall packed with cards for every kind of mother, from every member of the family (including the cat, really? who spends $4 on a card from the cat?!)  but I couldn’t find one that captured the sentiments I feel for my mine.

Just like Goldilocks, I found them too sappy, too serious, or trying to be funny but missing the mark completely. None addressed the complicated relationships of most mothers and daughters.

Maybe someday Hallmark will start a “keeping it real” card line, but until then, I’m going to use this space to say what I want to say to my mom.

My mother is a force. She’s beautiful, smart, creative, fun and oozes confidence. Quite the charmer, she can (and will) talk to anyone. Her mind is orderly and she doesn’t like surprises. She’s also extremely attentive to the way things look.  She’s always had chic personal style (she’s never owned a pair of jeans) and her house is immaculate. When I was younger she loved to put me in pretty dresses and Mary Janes with my hair cut short with a side part and barette, keeping every strand neat and off my face.

I am not as coiffed and concerned with details, which sometimes makes it challenging to be her daughter. There are days she walks into my house when it looks like a disaster has struck, my kids are filthy, and I’m still unshowered wearing workout clothes.  I see her biting her lip. She looks around wide-eyed and after the panic passes, there’s sympathy in her eyes.

She doesn’t say a word because she knows what my day was like. She knows how many carpools, blog posts, laundry loads, homework assignments, and games I’ve handled, and she’s humbled.

My mother tells me all the time that she’s amazed by everything I do.  She says she could never have juggled as much when my brother and I were growing up– which means a lot because she was busy.

She’s my loudest cheerleader.

When I started this blog, my mom was the first to sign up as a follower and reads every post. She regularly sends me complimentary texts and shows my pieces to anyone who will read them.

My mom is an attentive, loving grandmother to my three boys. While she’s one of the most opinionated dames I know, she keeps it in check because she respects my parenting skills.  She never misses an opportunity to tell me she’s proud of the job I’ve done with my children.

Maybe my mom has stars in her eyes when she looks at me, but isn’t that what moms are supposed to do? I’m certainly not the most organized, together woman, nor the best writer, or parent. But even on my lowest day, my mom makes me feel like I’m great.

That support and encouragement actually makes me a better parent, writer, and person.

There might not be frosted paper, fancy calligraphy, or jeweled embellishments on this card, and it certainly doesn’t rhyme. But it’s the best way for me to tell my mom what she means to me. I hope it makes her feel as loved as she makes me feel every day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who believe in their kids and never stop telling them they’re fantastic. At any age, kids will never tire of hearing it.