First Grade is a Long Time

Dear Tommy,
 
Now you are a first grader!  I still can't really believe it.  As I type, my eyes fill up a bit with tears of pride at how wonderfully you have embraced your first two days of full-day school.  You just aren't afraid!  You are happy and enthusiastic and brave.  I am so proud of you, Tommy.  I am so eager for you to learn and experience new and amazing things in the world.
 
But. 
 
I have to admit, it's a little harder than I predicted, kiddo!  The school day is long for you and it's long for me.  The hours seem different with my heart walking around at your elementary school.  I'm wondering what you're experiencing and whether you've eaten your lunch. 
 
It's hard to be a Mom and to feel such mixed emotions.  Frustration when kids don't obey, anger when kids are sassy, pride when kids are sweet, joy when kids are brave, etc.  Excited as kids embark on a new challenge.  Scared about how it will go and who they will meet and whether it will be fine.  Fear that somehow our relationship will change forever.  This week is a bit of a roller coaster in that regard.
 
Daddy bought you Fruit Loops and a bike lock on the night before school.  Fruit Loops because who can say no to the kid who requests Fruit Loops for breakfast on his first morning of school?  A bike lock so you could put all your focus into the mastery of the four digit combination.  As if you don't have anything else on your plate this week.
 
So, every day, you've been biking ahead, forging your way up the sidewalks and across the crosswalk and to the bike rack.  Sliding your fingers through its metal bars.  Twisting the lock back into position and running...yes, running...into the building with a quick thumbs-up to me as you head through the door. 
 
Geez, take it easy on me and at least pretend you're gonna miss me, Tom. ;)
 
I love you.
 
Mom
 
 

Today

Under a marshmallow puff of feather comforter, the bed is still made so as not to make things more difficult. I am curled up, still in my swimsuit after a long morning of fun. Tommy is beside me, and I hear him reading quietly to himself. This is what I dreamed about, I think. My handsome son with sun-kissed golden hair, and a pile of books between us. It has been a perfect day.
The kids woke up early and are still on probation from tv. It was just cereal for breakfast and then a huddled group of us hunkered on the couch, reading Spanish kids' books. Somehow they didn't even mind that they didn't know each word. After that, pulling on clothes and tucking in sheets and brushing teeth and picking up stray Barbies, Mag-formers, books, tents. Hurrying out the door and throwing a stroller and a scooter in the trunk. Dropping Tommy off to tennis lessons and going for a run past the cemetery with the younger kids. "There are ghosts living IN the gravestones!"
A few minutes to watch Tommy finish up tennis and then a spontaneous decision to hit the pool.
The kids were chilly and the pool still inviting, so they swam and then lazily laid on the poolside chairs, wrapped contentedly in towels. I actually sat down myself. Felt the medium-hot sun shining down on us four in this wonderful moment. Just so happy and still.
And then, to say yes to a lunch out, fearing that it would be more work to keep them happy and busy waiting for food to come at the pool.
But a pleasant surprise when they waited in their chairs for fifteen minutes, talking and looking and laughing and not getting up. Happy to be where they were. I am so happy, too.
And the food comes and they are sharing and thanking and smiling and eating it all. It's not a rush---no babies, no accidents, no spilling, barely a murmur of disagreement.
And then off to the car and they say goodbye to the people around us---the adults around us---by name. And we cajole on, heading together toward the library.
Jimmy is playing with three little boys, some a bit taller and some a bit smaller than he. It's the standard Thomas the Train table and I am reading my book several yards away. I can hear him jabbering excitedly to the grandma nearby. The other boys are fighting but Jimmy is sharing and playing and then telling me it's time to go the bathroom. He knows where it is.
Lucy and Tommy have bargained with me, How many chapter books can they check out this time? We negotiate and and for a while, they are engrossed in their mission to find the best books. The superheroes. The tween girls wearing impossible fashion choices and reeking of bad writing.
And then those older two are suddenly gone, their piles of books beside them at the computer station. They are happy and smart and clicking away.
They are all waiting for me to distribute the library cards, so they can perform their self-check.
And then let's drive home, my sleeping baby in his little boy car seat. My older kids quietly absorbed in their books. Me on a mission to grab an Americano because I'm still paying for a late night out last weekend.
The day that never happens! I am patient and they are wonderful. We on adventures and then it is naptime and Jimmy slips under his Buzz Lightyear covers. Lucy crawls into her top-the-bed princess tent and chooses a nap. Tommy curls in next to me, wondrously old and curious and reading.
The best.

Family and Life and Musings

It's a sunny winter day and I've pulled my laptop into a corner of rays during naptime. Lucy is working hard on a Sponge Bob puzzle and Jimmy is snuggled into bed with quite a cold.

After lunch today, Tommy hurried to grab his snow pants and shoes and got himself ready for the school bus. Then, as he does every day, he waited for my kiss before walking out the door to his special kindergarten world. "Have a great afternoon, Mom!" he called, preempting my usual farewell.

There is something so beautiful, joyful, and innocent about Tommy's daily excitement for kindergarten. He is always anticipating the next craft, crossing off the next activity on his school calendar. He isn't worried about failing at school. He seems only to have optimism about what lies ahead for his afternoons.

I am so thankful for the joy in Tommy's heart. It's reassuring to send your kid off to something he loves, someplace that reinforces our belief in Tommy's abilities and goodness. And yet still, a part of me wonders, when or will this blissful anticipation of school end? I'm sure it's not going to happen anytime soon, but I know that tests and challenges and social anxieties can make education more of a chore for kids than a reward.

Is there a way to change that? Is there a way to ensure that my kids will all love learning? I hope so. I hope that, even with bumps in the road and hard assignments and trying teachers, all of our kids will share the love that John and I have for learning new things.

It has been so long since I posted on here, and in that interim, my kids have really been growing up. Jimmy will tell you he's two and a half. He sleeps in a bed and he loves to sing songs. He is wild, running from me at the grocery store and constantly climbing on furniture at home. He is endearing, inviting me to snuggle next to him on the couch and proudly showing me how he has hidden and lined up toothbrushes in a row underneath a step stool.

Lucy is almost four now, and she brings up this point several times an hour. She wants to be involved in everything I do, from baking to cooking to cleaning the bathroom. Yesterday, she put on her "cleaning outfit," having noted that I had changed my own clothes to clean. She hopped right into the shower and scrubbed that thing til it shone. (I plan to have her in total domestic servitude by 6.)

Lucy has wide blue eyes and a contagious smile. She likes to direct others in playing, telling them what lines to say or who should be what role. I am always surprised to see that most of the kids we know (including Tommy and his older friends) do listen to her and play as she directs.

It's very strange for my youngest child to be growing into a boy instead of a baby. I haven't been without a baby in almost 6 years! I find myself lugging Jimmy around on my hip, practically throwing out my back to contain him when he really is quite ready to navigate the world on his own two feet.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about kids' independence and how you know when your kids are ready for the next step.

Come to think of it, how do I know when I'm ready for the next step?

A Day of Firsts

What a big day for our family yesterday! Lucy was elated to have her first official day of preschool! Since Tommy went to the same school and she also attended Vacation Bible School there this summer, Lucy just marched into the classroom with her head up and no nerves at all. I had to steal a kiss because she was so eager to get to socializing....err, work. :)


As I've thought about this transition for Lucy over the past weeks, I've continually marveled at how different she is than Tommy at this juncture. Most people I know seem to agree that there is a general difference between boys and girls at this age: girls seems more ready to color and perform in learning the writing act of letters and numbers, while boys are a bit more antsy and less willing to sit down for traditional academics.

I can only hope for Lucy that school is everything it can be---an inspiration to learn continually, to be the best you can be, which is always changing.


On that note, I went through quite a change last night myself in putting on a black polo shirt and training in for my first job since I had the kids. I picked up a gig at our gym, working part-time at the information & front desks. I have to admit that this technical "work" is really a break from being a mom! It was actually refreshing to clock in and talk to adults about something non-kid for a while last night.

I've been a member at our gym for 4 years, so transitioning into employment there is really natural, on one hand. On the other hand, I wondered how a work uniform would change my experience and community there. It's always interesting to see how people treat you when you are an employee providing a service. I suppose there will be many more observations about that over the coming months.

As I was swiping membership cards last night, John took Tommy and Lucy over to the first night of skating lessons. Lucy was a level ahead of Tommy since she started this summer, but she was pretty disappointed because Tommy and cousin Walt got to be in the beginner level together. Hopefully everyone will ready for open skating at Uncle Brian's home ice rink this winter.

K is for Kindergarten

Dear Tommy,

Today is your first day of kindergarten! Unbelievable. I bet that by now, you're off of the bus and already listening to Mrs. P's directions for the day. How did you get so old so quickly? And yet still, how can you only be 5 years old? Grandpa and I often marvel at how it seems like you've been around forever.

We started the day with K for kindergarten pancakes, and I scrambled up some eggs for a little protein alongside them. Then it was Tommy's Choice field trip, and off to the Arboretum for 3 rounds of the hedge maze and some playtime in their stick park. We were there for almost 2 hours! I guess kindergarten isn't going to tear you too far away from me if we still have the whole morning together.


Daddy surprised us all by driving home over lunch to see you off on the big yellow bus. That was the hard part! There was just something monumental about letting you get into a huge vehicle of transportation. And yet, of course, you were brave and ready and I was overcome with emotion. You just plopped down in the window seat next to Michael and probably thought more about your water bottle than about the vastness of kindergarten.

What are you learning right now?

There are so many things about you that challenge me as a mother, Tom. You are proud and stubborn and brilliant and creative. You are kind and fickle and prone to tantrums. You are full of energy and a leader. You are cautious and very aware of danger, but lately, you've realized the value of risk once in a while.

I had a good laugh this morning when you presented an impromptu skit to me at the Arboretum...you seemed to read the lines off a script in your mind. You paused for comedic effect and struck a pose when necessary. You pulled Lucy and Jimmy into the act and let them know just what they should be doing.



What will you grow to become over the next years, Tommy? I guess only time will tell. Use your good heart from God, kiddo. It won't lead you astray.

I love you and am of course waiting for the Seal bus to deliver you home.

Mom

Just a Stroll

Took a walk with my littlest guy tonight.  He sucked his thumb and held onto Lion as we strolled around the marshlands.  Jimmy is such a sweetheart.  He squealed with delight over passing birds and puppies and even sang a few Jimmy-original tunes.  A little walk reminds me how important it is to appreciate my children individually whenever I can.

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What Am I Doing Awake at this Hour? A Rant.

Actually, it's only 11:06 but I think my blog publishes with false times.  Still, for me it's late.  At this house, John and I look at each other and roll our eyes when someone suggests watching an hour-long show starting at 9:15.  Not. Gonna. Happen.

What's happened to us? 

It's sleep deprivation.  Five long years of sleep deprivation.  In fact, the number of non-interrupted nights of sleep I personally have had in the last 5 years can be counted as 5, and that's thanks to my sister, who baby-sat my puking kids while we were in San Francisco.

Actually, scratch that.  I was definitely not sleeping well then, either, because I was pregnant and puking myself.  And had shin splints from walking the hills that wouldn't quit.

Not really a lot to say tonight.  The kids and I watched Shark Tales, and John went out to the inaugural meeting of Dad's Club.  (I've received several iPhoto updates, and it looks like he is having a great time.)

It kills me that my youngest baby can sit on my lap and watch a movie.  Can say "scary!" when it's scary.  And "fish in water!" when it's just ordinary.  He's a baby, isn't he?  Anything under 2 qualifies, right? 

After I helped the kids brush their teeth, cleaned up (another) poop mess, wiped down the kitchen counters, and sighed, I opened Lucy's door and threatened to take Bunny Baby away for the night if she didn't get back in bed.  (It turns out she was merely getting her Barbies ready for bed...don't I know that they also need pajamas.)

And then I sat down to watch The Ugly Truth, which wasn't that great by Oscar standards, but made me laugh. 

I'm still wondering how my iTunes got erased from the computer, and I have a sneaking suspicion that my teenage siblings-in-law are to blame. 

But this is small stuff.  In the big picture, as my Dad says, I'm on easy street now.

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Yumtimes

Just ate at Brasa tonight with Miss Kate. She's been trying to make this happen for months, and now I know why:

Fabulousness.

I can still taste the spicey tangy beef, the salty kickin' pork. The sangria that was actually authentic. A zippy bite that kept me going back for another sip. (And then, somehow, another and another.)

Tonight was the perfect equilibrium of food and long-awaited conversation. There is something about Kate that always leaves me thinking. Maybe it's the way she refills my sangria glass when I'm not looking...

But no, not just that. It's also the way Katy sees the world through those turquoise-colored spectacles. She inspires me to be myself...to know I am good enough as myself, but that my self may be ever-evolving.

3 Things About My Childhood

1. When I was a kid, I idolized my older brother. I remember distinctly how quick-witted he was as a teen. And I remember wondering when, if ever, I'd develop the ability to deliver comebacks like him at lightening speed.

2. I was very curious as a child about my older sister, whom I really didn't know that well. Most of the personal information I knew about Sarah was gathered by reading her diary. Consequently, I keep my own diary in a locked file cabinet.

3. I used to hide in the cabinets of our downstairs bar for hours, pretending I was a character from The Box Car Children.

Smartie Pants

It's really not that polite to brag about my kid, but sometimes a mother just has to beam.

"Hey Mom, guess what 2 plus 2 plus 1 is?"

"What is it, Tom?"

"You have to guess, but I'll give you a hint. It starts with an F."

Little Old Selfless Me

I decided to relent to John's plea and switch his clothing to the other side of the closet.

And now that it's done, I realize that John really got the rotten end of the deal in the beginning.

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Let's Play Dictionary

Lunchtime conversation is generally enlightening with 3 children under 5:

Tommy: I have a paaaaar-ty!  I have a paaaar-ty!

Me:  Tom, that's boasting.  It's not very nice to your sister.

Tommy:  What's boasting?

Me: It's when you make someone else feel badly because you get to do something special.  Like if someone at school gets to be the line leader, and you don't....and he says, "I get to be the line leader and you don't!  I get to be the line leader and you don't!"  How would you feel if someone did that?

Tommy:  Bad.

Lucy:  That's roasting. 

Tommy: Boasting!

Lucy:  That's roasting.  Roasting stinks up.

Tommy:  It's BOASTING, Lucy!

Lucy:  Yeah.  That stinks up.

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My Lu

She's almost three.

She's the girl you hardly ever see without a tuft of blue in front of her face.

She's the one who will pipe up to tell you that she is a big kid.

She's the one who is dressed in the morning in pink from head to toe.

Except maybe grumbling a little because it's hard to put on a sock that is inside-out.

She's the one who notices the snow sparkling in the sunshine.

And who sings about shaking away her sillies at school.

She is always looking to grow up, up, up like Tom

Except when she's looking for snuggle or a nursery rhyme like Jim.

She is wearing glittery dancer shoes, and yet playing basketball at the gym with 20 boys.

She is telling you proudly that she goes potty by herself.

She asks you to read just one more book, even thought she's so tired.

She wonders when "Grandpa and Grandpa" will be here to visit.

She's ready to do projects and bake cookies and use a scissors.

And to ride a bike a year before the rest.

Lucy.

She has made a claim on this world,

But she's not going to let us in on the secret yet.

Her life is just unfolding, just beginning, at 3 years old.

A Winter Note for Jimmy

Dear Jimmy,

It's one of those days today.  The washing machine and dryer aren't working, and I made it to the gym with all you kids only to realize I had no tennis shoes.  The snow outside is icky and the sky is dismal.  But actually, despite all these things, I'm having a great day. 

You are at the sweetest age right now, baby.  You're actually anything BUT a true baby:  your skinny legs are long and hang all the way to the floor when you're seated on the rocking horse.  You run at the speed of light, and you've recently claimed your spot at the kitchen table in a booster seat.  You're ready to run with the pack.

My favorite part about your stage, though, is how much you're learning to say each day.  Everything I say----from "light saber" to "potty check" to "Shoot!  Clean it up!," you parrot back.  This stage really keeps a mom on guard! 

You're developing a newfound relationship with Tommy as a playmate lately.  Tom loves to grab ahold of you and seat you in between his legs to go down the slide together  He also loves to sing you songs to calm you down. 

Lucy, too, loves to make you giggle.  But I think at this juncture, she has a bit of jealousy towards her baby brother.  You're accomplishing so many "firsts" as a baby, and Tom has so many privileges because he is the oldest.  Sometimes Lucy can't help but want to reclaim the booster seat for herself.  It's something physical that represents her place in our family.

Our family. 

When I look back at pictures from a year or 18 months ago, Jim, I can't believe what John and I undertook.  The three of you!  Every minute and every outing seemed like climbing a mountain.  I can remember the very rare occasions when I'd take you all to the grocery store.  I just dreaded the checkout area, because it was going to be the inevitable scene of a meltdown.  Or twenty.  There were potty accidents and poopy diapers and screams and shoes to tie and the "Why?" phase.  It all just happened at once!

And now, I'm not sure if it's that you're growing older as a group or that we're finally settled into  our home…but somehow, it's gotten easier.  There are moments in the day when I actually sit down and think about what is next for us and for me. 

What is next?

Don't get me wrong, Jim.  It's still chaos over here.  It's just a smidgen less chaos than has become habit.  At Rainbow Foods the other morning, I was carrying you on my hip and gripping Lucy's hand as she jumped into sloppy snow puddles and directing Tom to stay close because cars were coming.  I felt confident and on top of managing you kids.  And yet still, a middle-aged woman rolled down the window of her Suburban to tell me her kids were 21, 19, and 18…and I would make it through these days. 

I know I will.  I know I can.  But on days like today, when your hair smells so sweet and you lay on the floor in the morning waiting for a "kiss (a)ttack!", I'm just enjoying the moments God has made room for in my life.

I love you, Jimmy.

Your, Mama

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An Early Meeting

I sat at the appointment, pretending to read a laminated list of thoughts regarding early childhood screening.  Tommy, a few feet away, squirmed and seemed to do everything he could to NOT answer the simple questions the evaluator posed.

I felt myself flush----not with anger, but with embarrassment.

Why does my kid try to do exactly the opposite of what adults want?  Why couldn't he answer the questions with enthusiasm and interest? 

Why can't he just do things my way?

The ten minutes it took for the evaluation seemed like an eternity to me.  Instead of standing still and raising one foot, Tommy had to attempt to hop around the room like a crazy man.  Instead of plainly listing the qualities of the red ball, he had to persistently bounce it practically in the face of the administrator. 

I was told to remain quiet, so as not to interfere with the testing.

Sometimes in the little and big moments of frustration, I forget that parenting Tommy is a joy overall.  Tommy's imagination and determination are gifts, but sometimes....like when I'm eager to get out the door and he is lost in space playing with lego men...I feel as if there must be no parent on earth with a child as resistant as mine.

I felt a little bit awful today because of the embarrassment that overcame me in that meeting.  How can I learn to embrace parenting my son, even when the job is so much more difficult than I'd imagined?

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Cleaning and Diapering and Cleaning and Laundry

Lately it seems my life it pretty much picking things up. Wow, three kids can make quite a mess! Tommy's preferred toys are now practically all smaller than a marble, and Jimmy is at the wonderful stage when he flicks food off of his highchair tray with reckless abandon.

Lucy prefers to dip most of her food in milk, including meat and toast.

Despite the mess, I have to say that managing these kids is becoming more of a joy and less of an impossibility these days. In fact, last week when John was on an overnight up north, I took all three of them to Perkins for breakfast by myself.

Actually, just writing that last sentence makes me proud.

You see, just 6 months ago, John and I laughed at the idea of taking our kids out to eat anywhere...even together. It was just too impossible. They were too crazy! The food was everywhere, the noise was ridiculous. John often commented that he felt a heart attack coming on just stepping into a restaurant with our brood.

Don't get me wrong. Our kids are still not perfect. (See above!) But as they age and learn to use straws and sit still for at least a few moments, I'm relishing the change in our family. I love having a "baby" that's nearly a year and a half, carrying only a few diapers per day, and feeling we can enjoy hiking or swimming or wrestling around in the yard as a family.

Catch Up

I'm intending to start over. Really I am. One of the hard things about re-entry into the blogosphere is that I feel a need to catch you up on where our life has been since I left.

So, I'm just ridding myself of that pressure right now. I imagine that through my subsequent posts, you'll just pick up where we are. I guess you should know a few basic things:



1. We're finally home! After months of stalking down a foreclosing home in our immediate neighborhood, we finally sealed the deal and moved our family this past June. In the interim, we'd lived in a tinylittleapartment for about 6 months. Throughout this whole process, we lived within about one mile radius of our initial town house!



2. Our kids are wonderful!
Tommy is growing up. He's approaching school-age, at 4.5, and yesterday actually copied a word other than his name for the first time. It was "Emily."

Lucy is nearly 3 and still inching her way towards total potty-trainedness. She is a skilled social gal, and I have no doubt that she'll be making her own introductions in this world by next week.

Jimmy is 16 months old, and just the twinkle in my eye right now. This is the 1st time I've ever had a baby this age without being nearly ready to deliver another one, so I am really enamored with my baby. He's starting to talk (about 50 words, but who's counting?), and he's also starting to get into mischief!

It's Such a Great Day Today!

It really is a great day today. Things started out a little rocky when my iPhone hit the floor and broke. But thanks to the miracle of restore, my day has brightened and I've decided to open up my blog again.

What a great day for everyone!

Tiny Apartment Video

Thought I would mark our family announcement with a tiny apartment video.

We're moving! We finally bought a house, and are so excited to have...for the 1st time...a yard!

Before Motherhood

I have received a poem similar to this one as an email forward in the past.  Today, on Mother's Day, I thought it would be interesting to write down some of the things that have changed about me, and things I have learned, since becoming a mom almost 4 years ago.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't realize it was a near-impossible task to keep pairs of socks for 3 little people together, clean, and not eaten by the washing machine or couch cushions.
I didn't realize what joy it would be to snuggle up on a Saturday morning in a cozy bed and pretend to hide from ghosts under the covers.
I never knew how the sweet smell of thumb-sucking spit residue would be more intoxicating than any other scent.
That a few scribbles in three Crayon colors could melt my heart.
That jammies handed down through my children would be so sentimental.
That songs off-key would be something I'd want to record forever.

Before I was a Mom,
I never realized that I would see the world with a totally different lens.
That I would travel less and worry more about not the safety of my own children, but rather my safety so that I could protect and guide them for years to come.
That I would consciously evaluate everything spoken in the presence of my children.
That I would want to intervene in others' conversations and ask them,
When you said that word, did you realize my children's ears were listening with rapt attention?

Before I was a Mom,
I never imagined that hot sauce would become a daily threat for sassing offenses.
That children could so innocently misjudge safety and bury a baby underneath pillows, thinking it was just a game.
That toothbrushes would become objects of mystery, and that any toothbrush in the house might get eerily close to the toilet on a given day.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't realize that I would spent every single moment of every day protecting my children, and yet somehow managing to do laundry, cleaning, cooking, teaching, organizing, disciplining, and unconditionally-loving at the same time.

I didn't realize how easy it would be to teach my children to pray.
I didn't realize how hard it would be to get my children to lay in a still manner while I change diapers.
I didn't realize how often the sickness would come.
I didn't imagine how all-encompassing the joy would be.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know how sexy my husband could be with spit-up on his shoulder.
I didn't truly understand what union meant.
I didn't realize the value of a spouse who would do anything for me and for our children at a moment's notice.
Someone who would work hard, every day, and not complain.
Someone who would come home and pitch in every moment---
Not because I ever asked him,
But because he wants to do it, and because he wants our family to be the best it can be.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know that love could grow so strong between children so small.
That torn books were the best books.
That whispering is more effective than yelling.
That patience is a daily goal more difficult to attain than anything I've ever attained.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't appreciate leisure time.
I didn't realize there would be a time in my life when for 14 hours a day, I would hear noise and work hard and have people climbing on me and clamoring for my attention every single second.
I didn't realize how exhausting it would be.
Or how humbling it would be.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know what a joy it was to give birth.
What an honor it was to hold another woman's newborn baby.
What a marathon it was to carry a child in your womb for forty weeks while chasing after other children.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't realize how hard it was to get children to sit quietly.
How innately they fidget.
How natural it is, to them, to comment when they don't like a certain food.
Or when they see a person who looks different than they do.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't realize it would be a daily effort to teach my children to truly respect others.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know that love between my husband and me could grow any deeper.
I didn't realize that love would multiply with each child we welcomed.
I didn't know what it was to pray to God for strength just to get through a day.
I didn't really know what it meant to thank God for gifts so amazing that I am truly and wholly unworthy.

Happy Mother's Day!

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