Read the prequel “Mother’s Day; Reflections on Motherhood.”

I love my mom with all my heart. I honor her and appreciate her for the love, sacrifice and selflessness she's shown to me and my siblings all of these years. She can't get enough praise, as far as I'm concerned. I love being a mother. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Those things being said, though, I think the whole notion of Mother's Day needs to be addressed. My dear mother has found the holiday to be a Hallmark manipulation; a day of obligation. The retailers go into full production mode, it's overdone, overhyped, overpriced, and restaurants are so packed as to be ridiculous. The problem? Everyone with a mother feels pressured to perform this one day of the year.

Shouldn't we honor our mothers all year long? Why do they get one lousy overcrowded day? Have you ever gone to a restaurant on Mother's Day and waited two hours for a table, hurried service and mediocre food?

And while I treasure the handmade gifts my son has given me, I tend to agree with my own mother. The holiday rings hollow to me -- too much of a retailer's mass-marketed creation.

In years past, I've marked Mother's Day with my own dear mom by giving her a small gift and wishing her Happy Un-Mother's Day. Nothing sentimental or flowery for my mom. I save that for my mother-in-law who holds the more traditional viewpoint. And I don't think any less of her for doing so. Some mothers just want their due, darnit.

On the other hand, some mothers may not deserve the accolades. You reap what you sow, in my humble opinion. If we wish to be honored as mothers, then we had better be good to our children, because they're the ones who are going to be picking out our nursing homes one day.

Happy Mothers Day!

And yes, I still expect a card from my son. (I'll admit, cynical as I am about the whole thing, I'm not immune to the hype.)


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