5/8/19 The Chatterbox
Betty Kaiser
Head’s up everyone! This weekend is Mother’s Day. Now
that you’ve been warned, there’s no excuse if you forget your wife, mother,
mother-in-law, grandmother or anyone dear to your heart that you call “mother.”
Mothers of all ages appreciate being remembered on their special day. So start
planning now to celebrate them on Sunday. You’ll be glad you did.
Most moms are easy to please. Think about it. They raised
you, didn’t they? At some point they must have told you how special you are to
them. Maybe it was that primitive watercolor painting that you brought home
from kindergarten and she framed. Or the Mother’s Day poem in your childish
scrawl that still hangs above her desk. She loves you.
It takes so little to touch a mother’s heart. Fughetta about the expensive stuff on the TV
ads. Moms are just thrilled if you’re there. Flowers? Buy a single potted
petunia to plant in the garden. Forget to send a fancy card? No worries. Just pick up the phone and tell her that you
love her. No money for a fancy dinner? Show up on her doorstep with her
favorite chocolates wrapped in a ribbon and a great big hug. You’ll make her
day.
And if your mom has gone to her heavenly reward, say a
little prayer of gratitude.
How do I know all of these things? Because I’m a mother and
it was the best job that I ever had. A mother’s love and caring instincts
kicked in quickly for me and knew no bounds. I worked 24 hours a day for 20+
years and was paid in hugs and kisses. Still, from the day a baby is born and
brought home until they fly away on their own, it’s work, work, work. But I
always thought that was why we had kids. Their wants and needs ordered my
days—from dawn to dusk and often, all night. Some people complain about the
teenage years but I thought they were a walk in the park compared to infancy,
toddlers and elementary school.
Actually, looking back, I sometimes wonder how I survived. My
husband worked long hours, six days a week, often until midnight. He was also
in the US Army Reserve. We had been married one year when our daughter Kathy
was born. Jeff came 2 years later and John a mere 13 months after that. Money
was scarce and so were creature comforts. No dishwashers or new-fangled clothes
dryers. I spent most of my time feeding and burping babies, sterilizing bottles
and formula, changing diapers, doing laundry by hand, ironing, hanging diapers
on the clothes line and folding clothes after everyone went to bed.
I was young and energetic enough to cope with chaos. Most of
the time. There were days when I was sure that I was going crazy. When the kids
were toddlers, I really looked forward to naptime. But they all slept in the
same room. Kathy dozed right off. Jeff was not so cooperative. One day he was very
quiet. I looked in and he was gone! I found him outside in his underwear riding
up and down the street on the neighbor kid’s tricycle! John never slept at
naptime. His favorite trick was to empty out all the dresser drawers—every day.
There was never a dull moment and lots of joy as their growing stages and
harmless mischief kept me smiling along with the exhaustion.
In my childhood, Mother’s Day celebrations were a big deal
and very formal. Growing up, the day revolved around my mother and grandmother’s
wishes. Sunday was church day. Everyone dressed in their Sunday best—suits and
hats—orchid corsages were mandatory! And dinner at the steak house with three well-behaved
children was a must.
My Mother’s Day morning as a mom of three kids under the age
of four years old was a little wilder. I would coax the kids out of bed and feed
them cold cereal for breakfast. Sticky hands and faces were washed before they
were dressed in their Sunday best; hair was combed and kids were plopped down in
front of TV cartoons while I got dressed.
Then, between the time I ironed my dress and put on my stylish
hat, an argument would break out. “Mom, he hit me!” And inevitably, one of the
boys would run outside, fall down and rip out the knees of his new Sunday suit.
Kathy stayed in her room just to avoid the commotion.
Somehow all five of us got out the door and into the car. As
my husband drove, I would pull out a bottle of nail polish and paint my nails—praying
they would be dry by the time we got to church. After church we all went out to
supper (where the boys climbed under the table!) and then home for a nap!
Mother’s Day always began with chaos but was rewarded with
hugs and kisses.
Happy Mother’s Day to moms of all eras! May all your
memories be sweet. And if you’re a new, overwhelmed mom, remember that childhood
is fleeting but love endures forever.
Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox
is about people, places, family
and other matters of the heart.
Contact her by email
@ bchatty@bettykaiser.com
