Reclaiming Mother’s Day

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MooMoo, Mama Me

When I was a little girl, it was impressed upon me from an early age that Mother’s Day was meant to honor and celebrate my grandmother, my mother’s mother. This was Mama’s idea, of course, and she was a woman with strong opinions about such matters. It was many years before I discovered that my mother had become open to cards and gifts on that second Sunday in May.

I remember, as a young adult, walking into her office at the Allentown State Hospital, where she was a psychiatric social worker, and seeing a Mother’s Day card I had sent her. Mama had it pinned dead center on her bulletin board. I even remember the card, a cartoon of a girl crawling out to the end of a branch to pick an apple. The caption read, “I’d go out on a limb for you – Happy Mother’s Day!” She kept that card for years.

There was a long period in my life when Mother’s Day meant the pain of not having any children, when I had wanted so much to have a family. A miscarriage and sudden divorce turned out to rob me of the opportunity to become a parent. There were too many half-baked relationships throughout the rest of my child-bearing years.

After Larry and I married, we enjoyed treating our mothers to a festive lunch here every Mother’s Day. Since Larry’s birthday falls on May 12, there were a couple of celebrations that included a special birthday cake as well. Now, both our mothers are gone, and the past seven Mother’s Days have seemed a bit lonely and bleak.

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Happily, this Mother’s Day marks the joyful occasion of my beloved godchild’s first Mother’s Day. (Here she is just before her wedding some two and a half years ago). She and her husband welcomed their first child, a daughter, last August. Now nine months old, this baby has captured all our hearts. She is happy, healthy and crawling up a storm. It fills my heart every time I see her and her loving parents – what a family! I delight in anticipating many more Mother’s Days to come.

Happy First Mother’s Day, sweet Lizzie. Love, Liz

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18 Responses to Reclaiming Mother’s Day

  1. Lynda May 8, 2015 at 1:43 pm #

    The photos are beautiful, and how lovely that you are to be able to reclaim mothers’ day. xo

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 3:20 pm #

      Happy Mother’s Day to you, Lynda – enjoy your lovely children and a special day.

  2. Wendy Read May 8, 2015 at 2:35 pm #

    How lovely Liz! My mother has been gone for 23 years now, I so understand the feeling–but how wonderful that you have a Godchild to celebrate and the circle of life continues for all of us. Enjoy your day! XOXO

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 3:21 pm #

      Yes, the circle of life indeed – Happy Mother’s Day to you, Wendy xo

  3. suzanne May 8, 2015 at 2:39 pm #

    Beautiful post Liz, happy Mothers Day and what a beautiful bride your God Daughter was, so wonderful that special little baby is in your lives. Have a wonderful day!!

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 3:20 pm #

      Thanks, Suzanne – wishing you a happy Mom’s Day as well –

  4. Judy at My Well Seasoned Life May 8, 2015 at 4:17 pm #

    Loving tribute to the real meaning of love. Thank you.

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 4:50 pm #

      Judy, thanks for your supportive remarks – truly.

  5. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious May 8, 2015 at 4:29 pm #

    Beautiful story, as always. (I was born in Allentown!).

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 4:51 pm #

      Dorothy, how did I not know this? We moved to Bethlehem in 1960 and lived just on the edge next to Allentown. Enjoy a beautiful Mother’s Day, my friend!

  6. kellypea May 8, 2015 at 4:42 pm #

    Poignant story, and so lovely — as is your Godchild. Best to you, Liz.

    • Liz May 8, 2015 at 4:50 pm #

      Gosh, I’m so amazed by these kind responses – thank you so much!

  7. Jessie May 9, 2015 at 3:52 am #

    Your writing is so heart-warming and truly captures the spirit of this special day. I can so clearly envision your mother. She was amazing! Your godchild is beautiful. How wonderful that your lives are intertwined! Happy Mother’s Day, Liz!

    • Liz May 9, 2015 at 7:32 am #

      My mother adored you, dear Jessie – Happy Mother’s Day to you, sending wishes for a beautiful day with your sons and their wives. xo

  8. Lisa @ Whisk & Cleaver May 12, 2015 at 12:34 pm #

    What a sweet post, and a great reminder of the women in our lives who may not be mothers in the traditional sense but are definitely mothers at heart!! xoxo

    • Liz May 13, 2015 at 9:38 am #

      Thanks, Lisa – hope you enjoyed a great holiday, Mom!

  9. Sippitysup May 20, 2015 at 9:06 am #

    Mother’s Day can mean so many things to many people. We all long to nurture and be nurtured in return and that’s the real point of the holiday. GREG

    • Liz May 20, 2015 at 9:47 am #

      I totally agree – nurturing is, indeed, the point of Mother’s Day. Cooking for those I love is my favorite form –

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