Divorced mothers tend to get gypped on Mother's Day because dad no longer feels compelled, or more accurately, required to take the little ones shopping to ensure a proper gift is purchased for the gal who gives so much of herself to so many people.
I have received more school Mother's Day projects, coupons for future chores I know they will never actually do, and dollar store trinkets that fall apart when I unwrap the newspaper the kids deliver them in, than I can shake a stick at.
This past Mother's Day was no exception. My son, who managed to save about a dollar of his total year's allowance, bought me a package of gum wrapped in some brightly colored construction paper secured snuggly with about a mile of Scotch tape.
I don't even like gum or allow the cheap little gift giver to chew it either, so I had no idea why he thought this gift would be appropriate. The price was right I'm sure and you can get a pack of gum just about anywhere, at anytime, even on the morning of one of my least favorite of all holidays... Mother's Day.
Since the entire year is basically "spend the day with your kid's day", I thought this year for Mother's Day I would treat myself to a day at the spa, followed by a night at the movies after a wonderfully fulfilling steak dinner... alone!
Which, of course I was unable to do because this was not dad's weekend and my mother nearly fainted at my suggestion that she watch them while I selfishly treated myself to a little rest and relaxation.
Of course my daughter is old enough to watch them but considering the gum in the hair trauma my youngest experienced the last time I left them all alone and hence the no gum rule, I didn't want to just create more work for myself repairing whatever damage may have been done while I was out.
So, I got stuck spending Mother's Day with the kids, just like every other day of the year and not one decent present to show for it.
Now, before you think me so callous, I was already taught a lesson by powers higher than myself.
Yesterday, more than a month after the day in question, I found my son crying alone in his room. I usually pretend not to notice these things and back away as slowly and quietly as possible, but I tripped over the boulder my daughter gave me for Christmas last year as a much needed doorstop, and crashed into an end table littered with home-made clay ashtrays and assorted paper weights from holidays past.
My son came out of his room, wiping away the tears from his wet face and I felt so bad for him I cleaned the mess up myself as he told me what was wrong.
To my horror, he was upset that I had not used my Mother's Day present. "Of course I had", I lied "I chewed a piece just the other day at work".
You see, I do know my children have feelings and I took a couple of sticks out of the pack on the way to work shortly after getting his lovely gift so he would know I appreciated it.
He shook his head no, the tears flowing freely once again. "Last night you made dinner", he sobbed, "and you cut up the onions and you were crying and I got upset because I don't like to see you crying because it reminds me of when daddy left...and,and.."
He couldn't even finish his sentence he was crying so badly, and for the life of me I had no idea what he was going on about. I asked him what me cutting up onions had to do with his giving me gum for Mother's Day and he said through the sobs, "Didn't you read the card"?
Uh, the card? I had not seen a card, I swear it to you all. He said he had written a card on the inside of the wrapping paper and that he had spent almost a week getting it just right.
Okay, here is a great time to interject that me being environmentally irresponsible is not entirely a bad thing. It generally takes me at least six weeks or so to fill up the recycling bin and there was about a one in fifty or so chance that I had unknowingly tossed his carefully crafted letter there.
Please, please let this be the one time I remembered to recycle. I dug through the bin and by God's good grace I found the wrapping paper/slash Mother's Day card, but almost wish I hadn't.
Here is what it said:
Happy Mother's Day Mommy. I thought about what to get you and figured the best I could do was to try and make you happy, but according to dad I would never be able to afford it.
So, I figured some more and thought that if I could do something to keep you from crying that ought to be just as good.
I know when you cook dinner sometimes and cut up onions you cry a lot. I know you are not sad but it makes me think about when you were so you must feel that way to.
I learned on the T.V. that if you chew gum when you cut onions you won't cry so I just thought that would be the best Mother's day present of all.
I Love you, happy Mother's day!
Oh my. My little man had actually given me about the best present a mom could ever hope for. I promised to bring home some more onions and we would give it a try and you know what, it actually worked!
Maybe I just convinced myself it would because there was no way on God's green earth I was going to shed a tear in front of him.
I've since collected all my "cheap" gifts and stored them in a place where they will always be safe because each one was given out of love by the most wonderful children a mom could ever hope to spend each and every day of the year with especially Mother's Day.
P.S. My only regret is I did not have this story available for the Mother's Day contest SearchWarp had a while back, I just know it would have come in second or third!
» left by Lorrie Davids(5,276) Lorrie Davids (70 days 12 hours ago.)
Welcome Back, Myla! I love reading about your experiences. Your mom's day present is one of the sweetest things I've heard. Just when you think they don't have a clue they do something like this. Happy Mother's Day, a little late.
» left by Myla Madson(2,344) Myla Madson (68 days 2 hours ago.)
Thank you for your kind words. I've been terribly busy as of late so I have been away for awhile. Still have plenty of experiences to write about so I hope to contribute a little more consistently. I've finally reached a point where I'm able to stay at home a lot more often so hopefully my life will settle down a bit and I can start spying a little more aggresively on my creative and quite unique little ones.
» left by Myla Madson(2,344) Myla Madson (65 days 3 hours ago.)
You are so sweet Jean, thanks for the vote of confidence. It means an awful lot coming from someone with such a keen eye for talent...he-he. I just love the work you guys do here and the wonderful platform you provide for those with a story to tell.
My mother is actually proud of me that some of my work has been recognized and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that!
» left by Susan Thom(8,330) Susan Thom (65 days 13 hours ago.)
hi myla, what a great story, and so well written. kids are somethin'. last night, was the first night in 23 years that i did not know where all 3 of my kids are, my youngest having just gotten his license recently, and my other 2 on their own. it felt weird. i don't think there is anything as precious as one's child or children. thanks for sharing a very sweet story,
best regards,
sue
» left by Myla Madson(2,344) Myla Madson (65 days 3 hours ago.)
Thankyou Susan for the comments. I'm going to hate the day that my kids finally leave the nest and although most who read my stuff would probably accuse me of actually kicking them out of that nest when they were'nt looking, I think most realise I write with sarcasm and would not know what to do with myself should I ever be left alone. Uhh, I shudder at the thought...peace and quiet, who needs that?
» left by Teresa Ortiz(5,015) Teresa Ortiz (65 days 12 hours ago.)
HI Myla, oh my! You made me laugh and then you made me cry as I read that precious note from your son!! What a treasure! Thanks so much for sharing. You always have great stories and its been awhile so don't wait so long in between stories :-) Blessings to you. And by the way, I think you would have come in first!!!
» left by Myla Madson(2,344) Myla Madson (65 days 3 hours ago.)
I can't believe I was away for so long after reading the absolute wonderful comments made by the SearhWarp community.
I only wish I had an ounce of the kindest in all of your hearts to give so freely the words of encouragement to those that put their stories out there for all the world to see...or at least the 160 that have read mine to this point.
Perhaps I should have saved this story for next years contest? No, I had to share it while the tears were still fresh upon my face.
» left by Teresa (65 days 1 hour ago.)
Waiting til next year would have been fine, it would have been fresh for all of us, but having it fresh in your heart made the emotions come through the words. Besides, you are already a winner with a prize that goes far beyond a bouqet of roses.
» left by April Lorier(4,522) April Lorier (62 days 9 hours ago.)
Myla, I'm pretty sure you would have won the contest, too. This was too wonderful for words, but be sure to save it for your son's "book" to read later in his life. Just a tip: burning a candle will absolutely keep your eyes from tearing up. I never chop onions w/o a candle burning on the counter! Let your kids know you'd like to have an inexpensive candle (Dollar store type). I am so glad you're back, writing, making us laugh and think, and making your mom happy! God bless you and your kids, Myla! Respond to this comment
» left by Myla Madson(2,344) Myla Madson (60 days 15 hours ago.)
You always say the nicest things. I will try the candle idea as I really do hate chewing gum. Thanks again for the wonderful comments! lol
I remembered this being a funny article and decided to read it again, along with the comments. I just have to comment on one of them. You said your mother was proud of you because some of your work had been recognized. I'll bet she was plenty proud of you even before you wrote the first article!
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