Mother’s Day is not just about one day in the year. To me, it’s every day. Every day is Mother’s Day because our mothers deserve to be loved, pampered, and taken care of all the time not just when the calendar says so. It’s not about what others do or don’t do, it’s about the love I have for my mother and how I want to show her that love every single day. So, for me, every day is Mother’s Day.
This year, I didn’t do anything on the actual Mother’s Day. Not because I didn’t want to but because I had a plan. My mum is coming over next month. My brother’s wife is expecting a baby, so she’ll be coming to support her. That’s the perfect time for me to finally hand over everything I’ve been buying for her.
She’s been complaining about her phone for a while now. You know how mothers are. “This phone is doing me somehow,” she said the last time we talked. I knew immediately that I needed to get her a new one. Not just anyhow phone, I mean something good. So I saved up and bought a brand new phone. Along with that, I picked out some nice clothes and shoes. Things I know she’ll like. Simple, but fine. The kind she would smile at, wear on a Sunday, and call to say, “My daughter, they were admiring me in church.”
It’s not easy sending things to her from here. The stress, the fear of damage or loss. So I’ve just been holding on, waiting for her to come. And very soon, she will. I can’t wait to see her face when I hand everything to her. That smile she gives when she’s surprised, the small tears that come with it, that’s my real Mother’s Day celebration. No social media post can beat that moment.
Living with her back then, I saw everything. The sacrifices. The way she wakes up before everybody. How she’ll clean, cook, wash, and still find time to check on each one of us. I used to wonder where she got the strength. Sometimes we’d all be lying down doing nothing, and she’d be in the kitchen singing and stirring soup. That picture never leaves my mind.
My dad used to say, your mother is gold. He never joked with her. He always made sure we knew how much he valued her. Anytime we acted out of line, especially towards her, he would just give us that look. You know the one. Then later, he’d call us and say, Whatever you do in life, never disrespect this woman. She has carried all of us.
Now that she’s coming, I just want to take care of her in my small way. Show her that I see her. I appreciate everything she’s done. I may not be able to give her the world, but I’ll give her what I can with love. Mother’s Day passed quietly this year, but next month, when I see her face, when I give her those gifts, when I hold her hands that will be my celebration. That’s my Mother’s Day.
This is my entry for this week's edition of #ladiesofhive community contest week #237 anchored by
@kerrislravenhill 
