Just in case it has slipped your mind, Mothering Sunday is mere days away
Up and down the land, young children are gluing macaroni to sugar paper and choosing pocket money gifts to say thank you.
Mine are no exception to this rule and I’m sure my wife will be delighted by their creations and choices come Sunday morning.
I suppose it’s an age thing, but it recently struck me that Mother’s Day becomes about so much more the older your family gets.
Take mine, for example.
When I was young, it was a simple business. My sister and I would, of course, get presents and cards for my mum and, once we were old enough to be trusted in the kitchen, made her breakfast in bed too.
Now, however, things are very different.
In addition to helping my kids get ready to quite rightly show their appreciation for my wife, I’ll be doing my bit for my mum. And this is where the true difference I’ve observed is to be found.
As well as continuing to be an awesome mum, she has found herself looking after two other generations on a daily basis recently.
We’ve been staying with my parents for a couple of weeks while work is done on our house. My mum has often helped out with my one-year-old daughter while my wife is on the school run with our two sons.
As if that isn’t enough, my grandmother – her mum – has been in hospital for three weeks. Sadly, things aren’t looking good and she doesn’t have long left. My mum has been to visit her every day and this has been physically, emotionally and mentally draining.
Sometimes, my grandmother either doesn’t recognise her or is asleep the whole time.
Despite this, my mum has remained her ever-practical self and is still smiling. It can’t be easy knowing that she’s going to lose her mother with constant reminders that Mother’s Day is imminent, but she just gets on with it.
For me now, Mother’s Day is so much more than its name suggests. On Sunday, we’ll be giving thanks to my mum for being a wonderful grandmother and daughter as well as a wonderful mother.
So here’s to all mother figures everywhere – we’d be nowhere without you.
