Happy Mother's Day

As I haven't put any cards in the mail yet today, and it is a Sunday, I am wishing one and all a Happy Mother's Day today. The kids and I are at home. I was supposed to work, but nobody wants to babysit on Mother's Day, so I am without a babysitter. The entrance stations will be closed today. Everyone will have to go visit Eric at the Panther Junction visitor center to pay.

This morning I made French toast, as I happen to like it, and Eric doesn't. He'll eat it under protest, but he really doesn't care for it. I was going to put in a Signing Time video for Awyn but Sam took over the DVD player and is watching Superman. I think he's going to be upset when he finds out I won't let him watch it more than once.

I'm not sure what we're having for dinner. I need to clean the kitchen before I even ponder supper. I also have a few loads of laundry to work through. Lately I've been terrible at getting it done; Eric's been doing all the cleaning. Well, not the vacuuming. The robot takes care of the carpets and inspires Sam to keep his toys picked up.

I'm just not very into major commercial holidays, and Mother's Day qualifies. Even without TV, I still am bombarded with advertising. Buy her flowers, chocolate, diamonds, cool gadgets. Write an expensive card, give her a gift certificate. Bah humbug. Pay the bills, help clean the house, love the children. All these holidays are rackets designed to enrich commercialists. If you want to honor your mother, call her and tell her you love her and appreciate her. Then listen to what she's saying because it's courteous to listen rather than do all the talking.

I've been asked by people what Eric is buying me for the big M-Day. Nothing, I hope. I have a long list of expensive yet innappropriate for gift expenses. Glasses, tires, and dental work just don't seem like mother's day gifts. Sure there are flashy me things I want, like a trip back home to visit family, but I think I'd rather have a new pair of glasses, tires, and dental work. Well, I guess I don't want dental work, I need dental work. The tires also fall under need, and I guess the glasses do too, but I also want those.

While I actually like Mother's Day, I don't feel it's a give-a-gift sort of holiday. I think I might even like Valentines day if we could cut out the forced smarmy little cards, candy, and enforced love thy entire class thing. No, I don't think I will ever like Valentine's day. I don't celebrate it. I do like Christmas, but I wish we could get away from the sheer quantity of mass consumerism that surrounds it and get back to the one or two truly meaningful gifts. I'd rather have one nice thing that says, "I love you!" than a hundred little dollar store trinkets that I'm only going to throw away as they break within days of receipt. Besides, while Christmas is about giving, it's not about presents. Think about it. I think all of these holidays should be about giving, but not about presents.

Don't get me started about Birthdays. I will simply say that I think the best way to celebrate a birthday is to have as much family as is available together in one place. Cake is fun, so is ice cream. Maybe a present or two for the kids. But that's about it. As Awyn's party approaches, I am satisfied with the small scale affair we have planned. Cake and ice-cream, and lots of friends to celebrate. We're combining her party with another party; Aidan is also turning 1 this month, so we are having the party at his house. I think some people would be pretty upset at the idea of sharing their child's first birthday. The first birthday is all about the parents! It's a celebration of survival, not just a natal day. I think the poster we're putting up is supposed to say no presents. That may seem tacky, but all of us parents involved would rather just have a get together where anyone feels welcome to attend.