My daughter decided to give me her Mother’s Day Gift on Tuesday. When I picked her up from school, she hopped into the car with a stapled white bag. As soon as she buckled her seat belt, she said, “Momma, Happy Mother’s Day!” I tried to tell her Mother’s Day is Sunday, not today, but she insisted I open her gift. I asked her a few questions about Mother’s Day and what she thought it meant, and she said, “My teacher told us that our mothers work hard for us and so we should work hard and do something nice for them.”
I smiled as she said this. As I opened the bag, I saw her eyes get wider and wider. I reached into the bag and pulled out a pink construction paper card, with a big heart, and inside I saw the words, “Happy Mother’s Day! I love you.” Inside there was a box that had a heart, that said “I Love You Mom!” with blue and pink sparkles on it. On the back of it, there was a pin. She crafted a heart brooch.
“Look Mommy, it’s a pin. You can wear it. Wear it now!” she commanded me to put in on and of course, there was no hesitation on my part. I slipped it on and for the remainder of the day, my daughter kept asking, “Do you love your gift, Momma ?” I told her this little heart made me so happy and I gave her two kisses on each cheek and held her close.
I’m wondering if I will remember this exchange twenty years from now. This thought comes to mind because my own mother asked me the other day if her own life has meaning. My mom never worked outside of the house and has spent most of her life caring for others. She does what she can, but sometimes I’m not appreciative of all of the good aspects of who she is. I am a constant critic and more than once I’ve been hard on my mom. Since she lives with us, sometimes my words speak of frustration. I take her for granted. I know that. But I want her to know that she, her presence has meaning. That she shouldn’t underestimate the value of motherhood.
I will always remember her asking me if I’ve eaten, if I’ve gotten enough sleep and in unexpected moments, she tells me, she is proud of me. There are times those eating and sleep questions annoy me, but in reality, my mother is the only one who will ask those questions of me. And when her voice isn’t part of my day to day life, I will miss it. I anticipate that a dull ache will be forever a part of my life.
Mom, I love you. I want you to remember all of the crafts, pictures and gifts both R and I have given you. Because as much as you may have forget those moments, they have meaning. And so does your presence, even though I may not always acknowledge it.
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, who in her own way gives my life meaning.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Can’t tell you how much this post has affected me. I feel your emotion and also appreciate how Mom’s presence is itself helps bring some calm into my life, and yours I’m sure. Sure, we’re hard on her, but only cause we love her so much.
Thank you for writing this. Happy Mother’s Day to you and Mom! Love you both so very much. 🙂
This is so lovely, Rudri. The way your daughter wanted to give you what she made right away, and how happy she was that you wore it. You speak of meaning; these gifts from our kids have such meaning for us.
I know that pin will mean the world to you for many years to come.
Happy Mom’s Day!
It will have meaning for me. We have stored it away in a small box that she made fore me. She tells me the pin will be safe in it.
I love your daughter’s delight as you opened her gift. I hold on to all the little things my boys have given me. It means so much because it comes from their heart. Your mom is the one that will worry if you are alright in those small ways. I know that you love her even if sometimes you take her for granted, it’s not something that you mean to do-it just happens that way. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Hugs to you.
Part of me believes she will always be here for me. I think that is why I sometimes take her for granted. This post reminds me to step back and try to appreciate her presence. Happy Belated Mother’s Day to You!
I too sometimes take my mom for granted, but when I talk to a motherless daughter or read a woman’s description of how she feels going through Mother’s Day without her mom, I appreciate how blessed I am. Thanks for one more reminder. I hope your daughter gave you an additional Mother’s Day surprise today!
Yes. Losses remind us of how much we should cherish the people we love.
Happy Mother’s Day, Rudri. One thing I particularly like about this post is about how important it is to receive each other’s gifts—it helps us learn how much we have to give and empowers us with the knowledge that we are capable of giving love… which frees us from the futility of trying to get love (or much of anything else). It makes me think of those first, primordial “gifts” kids give to us, little pieces of lint, or pebbles they pick up… an innate instinct for generosity and connection that must be received and recognized in order to be strengthened and fully nurtured. Namaste
I loved everytime my daughter gave me a rock and said it was a present. Now I cherish these little gifts of love that she gives me. It is the purest form of generosity.
Beautiful. What a precious daughter and a gift to see you and your mother in those same roles. Older people often wonder as they do not know that worth to us…we must remind them how precious they are to us.
This post has given me a gentle nudge in trying to embrace my mom and her presence in my life.
Geez, your posts make me cry a lot! I think that your mom has a true gift – caring for and being compassionate towards others is under appreciated and also really really hard to do. I hope that you are enjoying your brooch:)
I am. And I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day Judy.
I’m sure you will remember it. Positive.
I think so too.
A touching post, Rudri. Thanks for reminding me that the questions my mom asks are manifestations of love.
The questions are annoying at times – but I like how you say it Belinda – these are manifestations of love.
I’m sure this meant a lot to your mom. It’s true–sometimes they can push our buttons (and boy, do they know where they are)–but they always mean well.
She cried when she read the post. And then she said it was such a nice way to commemorate Mother’s Day.
Rudri – I feel I could’ve written this post. There are certainly challenges that come with having our mom live with us, and I do find myself taking it for granted and for being a little short when she doesn’t understand “our ways” of doing things. Yet, her presence does make a difference. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most impact, and by ensuring that the small pieces are in place, this house of ours is in order, and it’s no small feat. And that I credit to my mom, who takes care of the details that we neglect to due to work and other life pressures. I just wish it would be easier for me to show her how much I appreciate her in my life.
I love what you did here, and I’m sure your mom feels every bit of your love and gratitude that emanates from these words. Happy (belated) Mother’s Day to you and your mom.
Happy Mother’s Day to you too Justine. I know we share similar growing pains when it comes to our mom’s living with us. It’s harder to appreciate their presence because they are so involved with our day to day lives. I’m learning to be more graceful about it one step at a time.