A Thank You to Mothers Everywhere

May is coming up quickly, so that means that Mothers Day is approaching as well.  Lately I’ve been spending some time thinking about my mother and what she means to me. My mother has done so much for me, and been beyond amazing, so I try to treat every day like mother’s day, but it’s nice to have one specific day dedicated to her every year where she gets to be the complete centre of attention. (and boy does she deserve it!)

When I was little my mother and I got along like peanut butter and jelly. I have the cutest picture of the two of us sitting on my bed when I was about 4 reading a book together. We’re both wearing red sweaters and jeans and totally matching. Knowing me, I probably orchestrated that, wanting to be just like my mom. Now, I was four and I hadn’t quite figured out how to give my parent’s sass yet. Come about age 13, my relationship with my mother changed, as I hit adolescence and became the usual pouty, self-absorbed, sassy teen girl. It wasn’t until the end of high school that I started to really recognize just how lucky I was, and that I was taking my mother, and our relationship for granted. I sometimes wish I could take back all the times I argued with my mom about cleaning my room, fighting with my sibling, or buying that brand name sweater. But rather than dwell on the past, I try to let my mom know as much as I can how much she means to me.

The truth is, Mom’s have a hard job. They watch us make mistakes, and have to sit back and let us make them, knowing that it’s how we learn lessons, and turn those mistakes into successes. Sure, that one boyfriend was a jerk, and my mom later told me after that she thought he was way too boring for me. But she knew I had to take my time, and date him for a bit so I would know what to avoid in my next relationship. I swear, mothers are jedi mind masters, and always seem to know the answer to everything one of life’s questions. But I think the hardest thing for them is to sometimes resist telling us all the answers (even if they know them) so we can figure it out on our own. 

One of the most important things my mother has done for me is believe in me and all my crazy dreams. That sounds cheesy, but boy have I had a lot of dreams. Some worked out, some didn’t. But my mother never faltered in supporting me. When I said I wanted to return to dance half way through high school, she immediately sourced a ballet barre for my room. In high school when I brought the notice home about the class trip to London England, her and my dad secretly conspired to get me there, even if it meant they had to move some finances around. They wanted me to see the world. Years later, my mom bought my plane ticket to Europe, saying she didn’t want me to have to take out a bigger student loan. She wanted me to go with my best friend and experience the trip of the lifetime we’d been planning since grade 11. And of course there were all the times when I said “mom, I’m going to fail this test!” or “mom, what if I don’t get honours? Will you be disappointed in me.” She’d always scoff, and say that she could never be disappointed in me, that I was an amazing kid, and all that mattered was that I tried my best. From childhood to adulthood, my career goals changed constantly, from wanting to be a teacher (like this school-themed Barbie I had), to a video editor (like my dad), to a television producer, to a graphic designer, to a PR specialist, to an activist with an NGO, to a professor. In first year university I’d call her saying “mom, I love my classes, but I’m afraid this degree is useless and I’m going to end up flipping burgers my whole life talking about Marx and Foucault” In those moments when you’re doubting yourself, it means the world to have someone believe in you. I still have all the birthday and Christmas cards from my parents since grade 4. Every once and a while I like to go through and read them. And the one thing I always notice is that they never had a shortage of encouraging words for me. Even during those teen years when I argued with my mom too much and didn’t say “I love you” nearly enough, the cards from her are just as loving.

So mom, May 13^th is your day to feel like a princess. It’s my turn to treat you. And to all the other moms out there – new moms, moms with kids, moms with teenagers, moms with adults who have left the nest, you have the hardest job in the world and you deserve all the respect, love, and attention you get on your special day!

I love this necklace for my mom, because she’s more than my mother. She’s my best friend.

Boy are the words on this necklace so true. Like I said earlier, moms have mind reading superpowers!

And I love how unique these cards are! Not the usual drug-store or big box store card. And it comes with a cute little keepsake charm. 

And for fun, here’s a link to an adorable mother’s day Olympic-themed commercial that just came out yesterday! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FMunV1Y4X2o