Why I bought my own flowers for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day … it is a day so full of expectation.

There is this strong desire within Mothers around the world to feel valued, loved and appreciated. Let’s face it, motherhood can often feel like a thankless job.

I have had eight Mother’s Days so far and until this year they have all been really good. I never want gifts, unless there is a dodgy stall at school that kids can pick something for a couple of dollars. But I do love, just for one day, to feel like my family appreciate and love me.

Mother’s Day this year sucked … really … it sucked.  My children spent the whole day fighting with each other, complaining, arguing with me and my 4 year old even tried to bite me which never happens!  In fairness to my kids, they were VERY tired. We had been away from home for a few days juggling lots of things for lots of people. We were all stretched thin. We were not at home for Mother’s Day morning so we didn’t have the ritual of making Mum some breakfast in bed to set the tone of the day.

So, the day really sucked. Even if it wasn’t Mother’s Day I would have said it was a pretty shitty day as a Mum. The endless fighting totally exhausts me. But on Mother’s Day it upset me, I could hear my internal voice saying “this should be a day you make me feel good not beat up on me” … but let’s face it, Mother’s Day is just a day and kids have good days and bad days. There is no rule in the world that says kids won’t have a bad day … and my kids had a shocker.

So I surrendered. I accepted that nothing about the day was really going to be about me … I did get beautiful cards they made at school though. I surrendered and accepted that my job was just to get us all through the day, like any other crappy day, and ensure they all got to bed early and we could start again today.

After school drop-off I raced to the supermarket, had a physio appointment, and then went to my local florist and said “What can you make me for $40 that will cheer me up?”  so she discounted some lovely Colombian roses left over from Mother’s Day.

I haven’t had fresh flowers in my house since we moved to Waiheke Island so this was a beautiful way to simply honour myself. To remind myself that I am loved and valued, even when my children don’t have the capacity to reflect it back to me.

If you had a crappy Mother’s Day, go and treat yourself to something today … perhaps some flowers. You totally deserve it!

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