Let me help you with your Mother’s Day shopping. This year, forget about buying your mom a new robe, body scrub or orchid. What your mom really wants is for you to sit down and tell her about all the times she was right. So in that spirit, I would like to tell my own mother, after 55 years, just that. So mom, thank you and you were right:
»For telling me that I would grow to love my brothers and sister, and that wishing I was an only child was not kind or realistic, since I was the youngest.
»For never talking badly about my father, regardless of what lame-brained idea he had, like sledding under a sawhorse with three of the boys piled on top of each other. Sorry about your face, Dennis!
»For showing me that marriage was a marathon and not a sprint, that there would be days when you adored your husband, but just as many when he aggravated you. In the end, balance is what matters.
»For taking time for yourself and just you and dad. You showed me that your children weren’t the only important things in your life. Plus, your kids had some great parties and learned how to clean the carpet, because their friends were incapable of holding onto a beverage.
»For calling me a bitch in the middle of Plaza Frontenac. You didn’t care who heard, and it prevented me from continuing my Bridezilla tactics. It was the first time I was called that name, but not the last. That said, it is the only time I cared.
»For never complaining about not having enough money. To this day I don’t know how you and dad managed to feed, clothe and educate all six of us. You always made sure we had everything we needed and convinced us we had everything we wanted.
»For never playing favorites with your six kids. We all felt loved the most and best, although we are all pretty sure Dennis is your favorite.
»But thank you the most for being my mother. Not my friend, not my buddy, not my pal. I have enough of those. But still at the age of 55, I need my mom, and I am so happy I still have you.
So this year, I will not be giving my mom a present … oh who am I kidding? I will show up with something in a box. But mostly, I am hoping she will read this column. This could be a little tricky, though, because my mom only sometimes reads my columns. There have been many occasions when she tells me she “missed it.” I assume that means she missed the paper, but then she will mention some other tidbit from that same issue. So, please, if you know my mom, will you tell her to read this one?
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