Today was my first Mother's Day as a mother. At first, I lied to Kevin and said, "Eh, you don't have to do anything." But later I clarified that. "You need to make a big fuss, but don't spend a lot of money." That's what I had really meant.
Kevin and his dad got Mama and me corsages last night, and then we all went out to eat. Now that Penny is on Hawaii time, her bedtime no longer falls at 6:30 or 7:00. So we had a happy baby during the dinner too. Then we had ice cream at home.
Church this morning was great. Penny didn't go up and sing with the other kids, although I think she may have known the song lyrics just as well as half the kids up there. It's always fun to watch the kids sing, and I was a little bit disappointed that they all used their nice voices. I always get a kick out of the yellers. We had pie for the last 30 minutes of Relief Society. It was great to be able to chat with some of the other ladies from church, especially since we're moving this week and I had the chance to say goodbye.
I realize that Mother's Day is a rough holiday for many people, both for the guilt and the emptiness. RE the first: I think too many women are too hard on themselves, such that when they hear a talk about one woman being a great mother, they instantly feel like they are the worst. Now, I realize that no one is perfect, and we all should be trying to better ourselves. But we also need to recognize our successes and acknowledge them. God asks us to praise Him and love our neighbors. He doesn't then expect us to berate and despise ourselves. We're His children, too!
And Mother's Day can be hard when women don't have children but want them. I don't claim to be an expert in this area, since I know many people who have wanted children for longer than I have, but I did get to experience 2 1/2 years of infertility and 4 miscarriages before Penny came along. And it was so hard! But for whatever reason, Mother's Day wasn't the hard part for me. I didn't resent other people's having children, because that was something I valued and wanted. I tried not to be jealous: I didn't want THEIR kids. I just wanted my own. I appreciate my own mother and what she taught me, and that's what Mother's Day is about-- to me.
But now I guess it's about Kevin taking Penny during Sunday School and Relief Society, too. I can handle that.
6 comments:
Ha Ha that is funny. After years of wanting my own children I make James take Samuel during sunday school and relief society too!
Can't wait to have you in town!
Happy Mother's Day! Good to hear everything is going swiftly for Kevin's job. What's Ahma going to do without Penny?? We hope to see you guys soon!
Good post, Chelsea! I'm glad you talked about the "tough side" of Mother's Day too. I think it's all too often "hushed up" and is a very difficult day for many.
Enjoy NM! We'll probably be home mid July for a few weeks!
You are so funny. Great final sentence.
I'm glad that you had a good Mother's Day. I love all the pictures from Hawaii, and I for sure think that you should go with that picture for your Christmas card. Love little Penny's tan, she's so cute it makes me want to squeeze her when I meet her!
Chelsea, I must say, I don't venture into the blogging world very much anymore, but yours is definitely the most amusing blog I read. I think you've inherited your Dad's way of writing (didn't he publish a really funny book?), very entertaining, with humor that just kind of pokes up here and there to catch you by surprise until your face hurts from smiling.
Anyway, it's been fun reading about your Hawaii adventure, and I don't think I "hate you" too much. ;)
With all this talk of going abroad....forever, I'm kicking myself that I never made it up to Provo to hang out while I had the chance. Life just always seemed to be running too fast for me to catch my breath (like last year when Halle was in the hospital and I ended up missing your baby shower), but I'm berating myself now. I hope you'll forgive me.
Anyway, good luck with all this excitement...the world is truly going to be your playground...how fun!
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