Mother’s Day is one of those days when everyone is thinking about Mom—the kids are still in school and make her all sorts of gifts during class, Sunday school teachers help kids trace their hands and use each finger to tell Mom why she’s so special, the stores put their best flowers and chocolates on display.
In short, moms get a lot of gifts for Mother’s Day. Some are more keepable than others.
Here are some of the wildcard gifts I’ve gotten on Mother’s Day:
1. Info sheets
These are, of course, hit or miss, depending on the kid. One kid will say my age is 16, one will say I’m 5, and another will say I’m 120. It’s the same with the details—you can tell which kids are paying attention and which kids are completely stuck in the World of Me, Me, Me. The kid who wrote that my favorite thing to do in the whole world is the dishes must not be listening to all the complaints I air every night at 6:30 p.m. Either that or I must look really happy doing those dishes (I can’t fathom how this could be).
2. Pieces of kid-made art
These are also hit or miss. One year one son came home with a delightful flower pot that, unfortunately, faded when I set it on the window sill but which was still lovely, years later (I still have it). Another son once came home with a clay cupcake he’d painted to look incredibly appealing (except that the icing was green—artistic liberties). I have it sitting on my work desk so that every time I look at it I can crave cupcakes.
Another son recently came home with a portrait of me—which was actually quite frightening. That went in a drawer.
3. Old used things
One of my sons once gave me a toothbrush that had been used. I could tell because there was a collection of dried toothpaste hanging out between the bristles.
They’ve also given me stuffed animals they took back at bedtime, half-eaten cookies, and old toys they found buried out in the yard.
It’s the thought that counts.
4. Wildflowers
These are some of my favorite gifts, because my sons collect wildflowers without anyone suggesting it or overseeing it. They simply gather the flowers, stick them in a cup, and thrust them in my face. Even if I get splashed with wildflower water, this gift is the best.
5. Time to myself
Of course what every mom really wants for Mother’s Day is time to herself. This can’t happen without the support of a partner or friend. A few years ago, Husband left me a note on Mother’s Day. It said, “Hey, I thought you might like a Sunday off leading worship, and since it’s Mother’s Day I figured today would be best.”
Sweet, right? The note also said, “I left the kids at home so you could spend some quality time with them.”
He never did it again after I re-gifted that one for Father’s Day.
I have a whole bin of all the terrible gifts my kids have given me on Mother’s Day—because no matter how awful they are, it’s still nice to know your kids appreciate you.
And I can always sneak that well-loved bunny back in bed with him once he falls asleep and take, instead, the memory of his angelic face.
(Photo by Vesela Vaclavikova on Unsplash)
