“God couldn’t be everywhere, so He made mothers.” – Yiddish proverb
A trip through the Sunday sale papers the week before Mother’s Day tells mothers everything they should be. We should be fashionable and well-dressed. Our hair should be shiny, with no hint of gray. Our makeup should be impeccable and perfectly applied - not too much, not too little.
We like shoes, cute comfortable pajamas and fancy bras and underwear. We also like chocolate, nice smelling candles and wine (in moderation, of course.)
Mothers are supposed to look young, act young and be fit. (The purchase of exercise wear and anti-aging products are necessary for this…) Moms are supposed to smell good and have soft skin. Exfoliation is important; so is expensive perfume.
Jewelry is always a welcome gift, as are flowers or a pretty potted plant. Massage or pedicure gift certificates and bath products are also popular, as moms do, occasionally, relax.
Mothers are creative and they need tools to help them create. Things like fancy cameras, fancy cookware, kitchen gadgets and new appliances are always a hit. And, mothers like clean; does this mean we like to clean? I’m not sure about that, which means a new vacuum may not be the way to celebrate Mother’s Day.
We like to read, watch movies and listen to music. Romance plays a big part in all of this, according to the sale papers, so romantic books, cheesy music and either tear-producing dramas or romantic comedies are what Mom wants.
One of my favorite Mother’s Day offerings this week was a bright hammock full of colored pillows; another was a monthly membership to a wine club offered at momswhoneedwine.com For a mere $39.95 per month (plus shipping and handling) Mom can get a bottle of red and a bottle of white (both from small California vineyards) plus tasting notes, recipes and pairing cards. Imagine that…!
New trends in what moms want include iPads, iPhones, other phones and Keurig coffee machines. (K-cups not included…)
So, now that we’ve been told what all of us moms should be and/or want, let’s take a moment to look at what we really are and/or do...Moms are caring and loyal, loving and faithful, sometimes funny and always on your side. Moms are proud and supportive, quick and fierce when defending our young, and always ready with a kiss on the head or a big warm hug.
Many of us love our kids more than almost anything else in life. Most of us worry a lot. We want the best for our children and we never stop praying for them, hoping for them and being interested in their lives.
I know this is not all mothers. There are abused children and moms who just aren’t very nice. But I like to think, at least on their best days, all moms want to take good care of their children.
I also like to think that even though being a mom may not be a lot of women’s favorite job (it sure was mine…) they try real hard to get it right.
This Mother’s Day, my family has arranged the perfect gift for me and there wasn’t a single sale paper involved. We are spending the day before Mother’s Day at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary. This is a nonprofit that rescues animals of all kinds – over 1,500 animals from over 100 species.
Noah’s Ark is located in Locust Grove, GA, just north of Macon, about an hour and a half away. I don’t remember how I discovered them, but I Facebook friended them and their posts are some of the most amusing I see. They have lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) as well as monkeys, baboons, exotic birds, ostriches and a variety of farm animals.
One of the most touching saves they’ve made is of a bear, lion and tiger who were seized as cubs from a drug lord. The three, “BLT” as they call them, were tied up together at the drug lord’s and have remained best friends ever since. The bear’s name is Baloo, the lion is Leo and the tiger is Shere Khan. I really hope they’re out when we visit…
So, Happy Mother’s Day to us moms, everywhere. We may not be all of the things the sale papers say we should be, but we’re pretty darn close - downright awesome in so many ways. I hope the day finds you spending it with some of the folks you most love and who most love you, relaxing and happy, in a blessed way!
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