Happy Mother's Day

When Charlie and I first got married, we made an agreement that we would each take care of our own mothers for Mother's Day and their birthdays.  It's not that I didn't want to get his mom presents, it's that I wanted him to get his mom presents.  I wanted him to think about it and put care into it and not just pass it off and add it to the list of things that I take care of in our family and relationship.  His mom deserves a loving gift from her baby boy.  So almost 15 years later  I wonder if that was always the best decision and whether or not it put me in the hot seat every once in awhile, but still stick to my guns that she deserves to be recognized by him.

In the same respect, when it comes to gifts for me I don't get much from Charlie.  He says that he hates May because it's Mother's Day and Sarah's birthday and my birthday (as well as a crazy month for the kids at school because of all the end of the year activities that we need to go to), but he really only has to worry about my birthday.  Since I'm not his mom he sees no reason to get a gift for me.  I understand that and don't have a problem with it because what he does do is help the kids if they need to get something for me.  If they wanted to make me breakfast in bed he would be right there showing them how to do it or if they wanted to get me a present he would take them to the store.  He makes it happen for them and honestly that is a gift in itself.  It's also a gift for the kids, although they don't really know it, because what is better for a child than knowing how much their Daddy loves their Mommy?

This year I got the best gift for Mother's Day.  I got to fly to California for the weekend and meet up with my friends, April and John, and run a 10k and half marathon and go to Disneyland.  I got to spend my Mother's Day away from my kids rejuvenating and doing something for me so that I will be better at doing things for them.  My kids get to see that I am a person too and sometimes get to do things that are just for me.  And occasionally those things are healthy and good for me and will, hopefully, help me live a much longer life.

I got home this evening after they all went to bed, so tomorrow they get to give me my presents.  How did I get so lucky?