Send Mom flowers on your birthday

Today is my birthday. Whenever this day rolls around, I think of my mom. Since I've had two kids, I know what she went through with the pregnancy, the delivery and the baby years that followed. I'm sure that it was very easy to love me when I was nine months old and cuddly-cute. Then, the terrible twos and threes came along. Since Mom had all four of us within five years, I'm sure that she had a delightful time dealing with a two-year-old daughter, a four-year-old son, a five-year old son and a newborn son. Besides the kids, Mom and Dad worked. Oh man, did they ever work! Talk about someone that deserves a medal!



Then came the early school years. Looking back at the pictures of my sweet little smile, I must have been an easy child. But then....the years when my "evil" side came out. I remember yelling at Mom, running to my room and slamming the bedroom door. Slamming the door at our house had quite the affect because the doors are solid wood with nothing to slow them down. The whole house would shake!



Next came the teenage years...she stuck with me through horrible PMS (sorry if that's too much information!), through hating boys, through liking boys, through sports, through learning how to survive three brothers and their wresting obsession, through so much. I spent the first two years of college at home, so she had to put up with my attitude that I knew everything and she knew nothing. She had to worry about me when I was out late, knowing that I was getting older but that I was always her little girl.



Then, I moved to La Grande to finish college, and she had to do all of the same things long distance. I remember calling her once in the middle of the night because my boyfriend had broken up with me. She wasn't able to do much over the phone, but it just felt good to talk to Mom.

Just out of college, Bob and I got married (10 years just last week!). That was probably the easiest time for my mom and me so far. She'd come visit and we'd go shopping. Bob would always side with her on any of our arguments, so that was nice for her. I'd come home and we'd do some more shopping or scrapbooking. It was a fun time getting to explore our new relationship with me as an adult.

A couple of years later, Ryan was born. Emma was born four years later. I know that I snapped at her several times when she'd offer helpful suggestions regarding the kids. She was right, of course, but I wasn't willing to admit it. I remember one night when Emma was less than a month old. Emma spent her first month crying...it was delightful! Anyway, Mom was there visiting. I'd been walking the living room and kitchen with Emma for hours, trying to get her to go to sleep. Mom was sleeping (or trying to sleep) on the futon in the living room. She offered to take Emma and try to get her to sleep. Can you believe that I told her no?! Pride is a powerful thing. I like to think that, if faced with the same situation today, I'd hand her right over with a smile and hug.

I don't know about Mom, but I love the relationship we have now. We have so many of the same interests: the kids, scrapbooking, card making, visiting the Farmer's Markets, taking photographs, decorating, combing the beach, berry picking. Whenever we're together, we are enjoying ourselves. She's a wonderful Nana to the kids...always willing to sit down and read "just one more story." She's a wonderful spiritual example to all of us. I love that the kids will be able to look back at Mom and Dad and know that they shared the same beliefs.

So, as I sit here, one year older, I'm thankful for Mom. I'm so thankful that I was born to this mother. I'm thankful for the endless, unchangeable, unrestricted love I've always received from her. I'm thankful that she's put up with us for all of these years. I'm thankful more and more each day that she's my kids' Nana.

A couple of years ago, I read an article from a lady that decided to thank her mother every year on her birthday, not the mother's but the daughter's. She sent her mother flowers each year when the date of her birth rolled around. I decided to do the same.

Mom, you've got your flowers on the desk at work. Each time you look at them, please remember that I love you and that I'm thankful for you each and every day.

**Disclaimer: This tribute to my mom is not intended as an exclusion of my dad. I love my dad and am very thankful for him. There are many stories about Dad from my childhood that I plan to share in a future blog. You turn's coming, Dad!