Happy Mother's Day!

A friend just asked me what my family “does” for Mother’s Day. My response - our family doesn’t really “do” anything big or special for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, which I guess is our own tradition. Also, I selfishly claim that because my birthday is always on or very close to the second Sunday in May, it takes trump. As a kid, I even insisted on celebrating my birthday on Mother’s Day every year at the pizza place where they would give me one of the pink carnations they were handing out to mothers. What can I say, it made me feel special and also like I had pulled one over on “the man.” Ha!

I don’t know why we don’t celebrate the way other (seemingly functional) families do with brunch or lunch and cards and cake and that butt-ugly Jane Seymour jewelry I’m sure LOTS of disappointed mothers have been gifted. My parents, despite my sharing their stories for them in writing, are very private people – always have been, always will be – which seems ironic considering I am the master/mistress of TMI (stories about shitting one’s pants… been there, done that! See previous posts.) Except for within our inner circle, the immediate family, my parents shy away from all attention and fuss. My mom has even thought ahead to the unwanted attention she might receive after her hopefully very distant but eventual death – no funeral, and if the law would allow, stick her in a garbage bag at the end of the driveway on trash pick-up day. I don’t know if Mom has big plans for an obituary as it would draw attention, but if one is allowed, it will no doubt be something brutally succinct, as in “Bad news… [Mom’s name] died.” The end.

Just because we have no big customs or elaborate celebrations for these Hallmark holidays doesn’t mean my family doesn’t value them or their meaning. I will call Mom on Sunday, like I do every Mother’s Day, to acknowledge the holiday and wish her the best. A bit of a formality we mutually understand, but I think she appreciates the call nonetheless. And I will call my dad on Father’s Day to do the same and be met with a quick “thanks” mumbled back in slight embarrassment before we move on to more important conversation that will certainly put less “unnecessary” attention on him. It’s the same every year. See! We have our traditions, after all! And I look forward to them just the same.