My people are so good to me. Many weeks ago now, we were looking at the calendar and realized that on Mother's Day, I'd be standing in the wings of the theater - helping with props, and watching my boys. And when not backstage that day, I'll be in the car, shuttling those dancing boys to and fro. Not only that, but it appears as though this will be the case for every Mother's Day for potentially a great many years, as their ballet company has the theater reserved for that weekend for years to come. Now, a day in the wings watching my boys dance is a delightful way to spend a day, but it does mean I miss out on the other three (and Papa!), and all the other good things we could be doing. And that's when my peeps decided to change the date of our Mother's Day. I'm telling you, they're good to me.
So yesterday was my Mother's Day. My requests, when pressed for them by my little ones in the weeks preceding, was that we all be together for the day. That we work in the garden as a family, and that we go for a walk in the woods after dinner. That they let me take a long-overdue family photograph. Requests, I would imagine, that sound familiar to any Mama. Simple things.
At the end of the day, exhausted and satisfied as we feel after most long everydays, I realized that not one of those requests actually happened. Papa worked so hard all day the garden for and with me, with little ones trickling in and out at our side for help, of the not always so helpful kind. The older crew complained and bickered and resisted. Our family walk in the woods after dinner was cancelled because an early nap for baby girl meant that she was crumbling by dinner time and ready for bed, with her next oldest brother right behind her. And the photograph? I couldn't remember where I put the tripod last and didn't have the energy to dive into a closet search for it. Plus the thought of trying to contain seven wriggly people within any kind of parameters for more than ten seconds with only a prime lens to boot? It suddenly became not that important to me.
But, sitting there at the end of the day all exhausted and satisfied as we were, I was overwhelmed with what I did get on Mother's Day. I slept in (as much as my body would let me anyway....will I ever be able to truly sleep in again?). I had my favorite breakfast prepared and delivered lovingly by so many hands (fried egg with braised kale, beets, onions and garlic over toast with goat cheese - yum). I was completely and thoroughly showered in handmade cards by all with the art and poetry and declarations of mama love that I will treasure always. I watched my baby girl climb on up into the wagon, make herself a little nest of pillows and blankets, and just fall asleep on her own - naked in the sunshine next to me in the garden. I planted purple potatoes (blue adirondacks) with my giggling Purple Working Man, who thought it was the most fabulous thing ever. I sat in the sheep pasture with my favorite shepherdess...and just sat and talked and played with those sheep in the sunshine. I had a most interesting and insightful conversation with Ez as we gathered the rocks and built a small border around my new magnolia tree (or Granola Tree, as we all call it now thanks to Harper). And later at night, my lanky, strong, growing oldest boy climbed into the big bed with me as I read Harper to sleep...and once his little brother fell asleep, we stayed there together talking about things great and small.
All day, there was sunshine and laughter, bare feet and hands in the dirt, and an impromptu after dinner show with a cast of five characters that make us laugh, cry, grow, and love more and more every single day. Mother's Day or not, they are all incredibly full. So much happens in the course of a family day, yes?
I am so grateful. This was a very good one.
