What Every Mother Wants for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is near. For some, it will be a very happy day. For others, it will be a lonely, difficult time. For a few, it will be a day of mixed blessings.

Recently, I have been doing a little people watching. I have been both listening and observing people as they prepare for this auspicious day. Some of the people that I have viewed are happily preparing for it; joyfully looking for that perfect gift for mom. Others I have heard grumbling and bemoaning the fact that they "have to waste my busy time for such an obviously commercial day." A few have bluntly announced "I have no intention of buying that battle-ax a (fill in the blank) thing!"

While it may be true that Mother's Day was conceived by greeting card companies and florists who wanted to sell more products, I have to ask, "who cares?" What is wrong with a day that recognizes all of the things that our mothers have done, continue to do, and will likely always do to help us?

I fall into the category where Mother's Day is a bittersweet time. While I know that I will enjoy every minute of the day with my daughter and grandson, it will still be somewhat sad. Part of that reason is because my son and granddaughter are clear across the country in Oregon. I will miss spending the day with them.

The other reason that the day will be difficult is because it is the one day I wish my mother could be here - - her old smiling, sweet, mischievous self. Of course, that isn't possible because Alzheimer's has taken her away from me forever.

Mothers, like the rest of us, are fallible. They make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are whoppers. While some of those errors might not be forgivable - - and you know what those are - - most certainly should be; unless, of course, you happen to be one of those perfect people that I haven't yet met.

I'll be honest. My mother and I were not always close. When I was growing up, she didn't know how to say the worlds "I love you," much less show the emotions behind the words. At the time I didn't understand why and I resented her for it. However, as I grew up and saw things the way they really were, I thoroughly understood the reasons behind her inability and I forgave her.