Mother's Day

Ok...I'm not going to lie.  My Mother's Day wasn't exactly a relaxing, easy-going kind of day.  Don't get me wrong, I had a great day filled with delicious meals (all prepared by Philip--yum!), beautiful flowers, fun gifts for the house, and time with family.  But, I also had a very sick, clingy, and fussy baby.

Our original plan was to have a picnic at the Arboretum like we did last year with our parents, siblings, and some of our best friends.  But, it rained.  It rained all night.  And it rained really hard.  I realized as soon as I woke up that our picnic was definitely not going to happen.  And as soon as Cooper woke up, I realized I had a sick baby on my hands.  Coughing, sneezing, runny nose...the works.  And you know what comes with a sick baby?  A fussy and clingy baby.  Really fussy.  Happy Mother's Day!

I had envisioned going to the picnic for the morning, bringing Coop home for a nap, and then taking advantage of a quiet afternoon.  Maybe run some errands on my own, return a couple of items to Baby Gap, and yes, probably stroll through the mommy-sized section at Gap.  And, because it was Mother's Day (that would have just been my excuse anyway) I probably would have stopped at Starbucks for a special coffee and maybe even a chocolate chip cookie.  But, nope.  It rained and I had a sick kiddo.

But, again, don't get me wrong.  We ended up having a good day.  Gammi, Poppi, and Auntie Ann came over for an indoor picnic and a couple of rounds of Mexican Train Dominos.  And, the best part?  I got to spend the entire day with my mom!

So, what's my point to all this rambling?  Well, yes, for Mother's Day, I could have gotten a day to relax and play and get some time to myself and enjoy a yummy coffee in peace.  But, instead, I got to play the role that I waited so long for.  The role that some women never get to fill.  The role that can be inspiring as well as exhausting.  The role that many women have played for me (and for which I feel I have big shoes to fill).  I got to play Mom to my baby who really needed me that day.  He needed me and wanted me.  Instead of alone time at the mall, I sat in the rocking chair in Cooper's room, holding him for almost three hours while he slept on my chest because that was the only way he would sleep.  He needed Mommy.  Instead of sitting outside at a picnic and watching Cooper run while other people chased him, I walked around with my son on my hip for half of the day because he wouldn't let me put him down.  He needed Mommy.

So, yes, my Mother's Day wasn't exactly what I had originally planned.  But, I got to spend the day with my mom and with my baby who especially needed me that day.  I feel blessed and am forever grateful to have been given the gift of "Mom."