The BEST Mother Day Gifts aren’t Tangible

I will admit, I force my children to celebrate Mother’s Day kind of big, with a SEPARATE gift from my birthday that falls near Mother’s Day. I am seldom a diva but I guess I am a little bit of one on Mother’s Day.

If I really think about it though, I get so many other “Mother’s Day” gifts year round from my kids, so why am I insisting on a celebration the one day of the year Hallmark designed for us?

We all get these year round gifts as moms. We get those moments where our hearts surge with pride, where our kids cause us to smile, and all those millions of moments of happiness or laughter we get from them. They are all gifts. Actually, they are the most meaningful of all gifts.

For example, my daughter is sweet enough to read me portions of notes provided by her patients/clients, and even her coworkers and bosses, on her talent for being a compassionate therapist. And I smile knowing she has found her calling. Here’s a snippet of a recent note to my daughter from a client, anonymous of course:

“I hope you’re doing well. I think you are an amazing therapist. You’re so young and already badass. Thank you for being there when I didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Thank you for caring. Thank you for not judging me. Thank you for opening up my world. Thank you for helping to save my life.”

This gift to me included goose bumps as a bonus.

Going way back, I remember when my second and last child was graduating from elementary school and a few of the teachers were sitting around near me. Both teachers told me that they would miss our family, and then one asked, “Are you sure you don’t have any other children you can send us?” Another little gift for me, thanks to my kids.

A couple that knew my son through the years but hadn’t seen him in a long time bumped into him on a plane and spent some time talking to him. Afterward, this woman took the time to email me and just raved about him. Another gift.

Or how about those times when your kids did or said something that had you rolling back your head with laughter.

Like the time when at a carnival, a fortune teller asked my eight year old daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. The very sure of herself little Elissa answered in a very grownup voice, “An author and an illustrator, and maybe a psychotherapist.” The fortune teller was quite taken aback  at that very grown up answer, and that gave me such a big laugh. Elissa was often 8 going on 30.

So moms out there in blog-land, celebrate yourselves by conjuring up some of those special moments like I just did. I guarantee it will be the best gift you get.

And enjoy those material cards and gifts too on the day you should be rightly lauded. Mothering is a very hard job.

Wishing all the wonderful mothers the happiest of Mother’s Days.