Mom's Monday Morning Post Mother's Day Coffee

Last week. My idea.... coffee...our house...some other moms. Just a fun way to get together with some of the fabulous moms I've met over the years, thanks to our kids.

It seems we never have time to just chat. It's time to chat tomorrow....it's late...I'm tired...exhausted from roller blading with Biff. I'd better start cleaning up around here...vacuuming, windexing, sweeping and putting out some coffee cups....and pretty napkins...and some flowers...and some trays.

I'm not trying to impress them....I'm just hoping to be able to let them in the door. Once they get in the door, I'm hoping to avoid the possibility of someone tripping over flip flops or topsiders or rain boots or a dog bowl or a dog leash...or a dog! A mother's work is never done...literally.Happy Mother's Day.

Thanks For A Great Day!

Breakfast In Bed

Yes it's true! Breakfast in bed. The all time number one Mother's Day dream come true. Sort of. Kind of. Maybe. Almost.

As Biff entered the bedroom followed by Grace and T.J., he and I gave each other a knowing nod.

It was a sweet moment. Here we are all together on the morning of the day we all celebrate our mothers....a day created by Hallmark. A day of forced loving and giving...ahhh....a lovely spring day created for the moms of America...that causes more stress than a house full of monkeys!. The right card from Hallmark, the perfect Zales diamond gift, perky flowers from FTD and dinner out with the whole family at Red Lobster or Olive Garden...at least, that's what the commercials suggest.

As the kids get older, their enthusiasm fades for the precious attempt to serve the ultimate surprise for mom, waking up early for the kitchen whirlwind of adventure making burnt toast slathered with butter and gobs of jam....lukewarm coffee with grounds clinging to the perimeter of the mug, a wilted flower yanked from the garden placed in the most treasured wedding gift handed down for generations..... hand colored cards on construction paper with giant hearts and misspelled words...all on an unsteady tray....hopefully all with supervision of their dad, overtired and overwhelmed by the sunrise surprise party for mom. The reality for most moms I know....is a very strained day...since the commercials have insisted that good children in nice families are publicly displaying their love and affection...dammit!

Teenagers would most likely prefer sleep rather than saccharin smiles so early in the day but they know the drill by now...so they rolled out of bed for their required performance.

We all laugh at ourselves. Its clear that dad pulled it together while the kids caught a couple more winks. We take a few moments sitting in the tousled comforters to look back at so many other magical Mother's Days. I look at our family...squished together...as I sip my lukewarm coffee and bite my burnt toast....and I couldn't be happier. This is my new magic! The burnt toast couldn't be better. I'm so grateful to be s so blessed as a mom.

"Mom "

I wore this ring yesterday. Grace looked astonished," oh my gosh...it's so tacky. I can't believe you wore that!"

Tacky? Perhaps. Just a tad tacky. She bought it with all of her love and enthusiasm. Grace was 9., old enough to want to take on her own gift shopping. She asked Biff to take her to Walmart to select her gift. She knew it immediately ....this was it!

I said thats partly why it's so special. "you were so proud that you picked it out yourself." "But mom, it's so cheesy. I'm sorry."

"That's why I love it.That's what makes it so special! That's when you loved me!" We both laughed. Priceless!