Mothers and Groundhogs

Written By

Dr. James Spinnati

         Mother’s Day is here at last, rejoice Mom. Never mind when your children tell you, “Leave the dishes today Mom it is your day you shouldn’t be working. After all, you can do them tomorrow!” And Mom don’t grieve because secretaries and pickles receive one full week of national acclaim while you, like the Ground Hog, only get one day.

         Being a mother is tough because you have to live up to everyone else’s expectations. When your kids look for the perfect mother she exists in your child’s mind as everybody else’s mom. She is right out of a story book. In fact, she is the answer to every child’s prayer. She likes snakes, spiders, frogs, all kinds of creepy crawly insects, ice cream for supper, unmade beds, rooms in disarray, and she could care less if you stay out all night!

         We all know that this is not reality. But I want you to reflect for a minute. Mother’s Day is the first shoes that you still keep of your first born. It is the plaster hand imprint that your daughter made in kindergarten. It is remembering the heart shaped paper that said, “I love you Mom” written in macaroni. Mother’s Day is all the little things that you remember that have never crossed your children’s minds. It is the first glimpse of your child at birth, the first steps that your daughter took and the first time the “Tooth Fairy” visited your child’s room. That is what Mother’s Day is all about. It is not about flowers and cards, it is about memories. This Mother’s Day make it your personal business to make another memory that only you will remember. One that will make you smile when you think about it. So don’t get upset that you and the Ground Hog only get one day. Remember that Ground Hogs are people too!