It’s nearly Mother’s Day! The day when us mums everywhere can have a break, relax and enjoy a whole day of peace and quiet….or can we?
Since the day is about being a mother, we can’t really get out of spending the day with our kids. We could dump them on the doorstep of the grandparents/auntie/uncle etc, shout “See you later!” and drive away with a big grin on our face while heading in the direction of a fancy spa or restaurant.
BUT…
I’d never do that. One thing I’ve discovered since becoming a mum is that time has gone by much faster. My kids are still young, but those baby and toddler years went by so fast! So, I’ll be happily spending the day with them, despite them being noisy…and chatty…and invading my space.
If someone were to ask me what I REALLY want for Mother’s Day, though, then I would be handing over this list of ten things that I can’t deny would make the day even more enjoyable.
Forget spa days, any of these simple things would make me happy:
1. Peace and quiet
As mentioned above, my kids are VERY noisy, which is all fine and normal. But there are only so many times you can listen to your six-year-old giving his cuddly toy capybaras (the latest toy trend) various voices. Obviously, peace and quiet are hard to get when you have young children. Perhaps I could persuade the husband to take them to the park for the entire day an hour.
2. A peaceful bath
It would be heaven if I could just, for one day, have a bath without one of the kids shouting through the bathroom door and complaining that they need the toilet. Why do they always need the toilet when I’m in the bath?!
A nice, long, uninterrupted soak in the bath with some fancy bubble bath would be the perfect Mother’s Day treat!
3. A relaxing meal
Mealtimes are a bit stressful in our house. Being a family of fussy eaters means cooking separate meals nearly every day. So, it would be nice to have a meal cooked for me, and to be able to eat it in peace without the following:
1. A child announcing that they don’t like the look of a particular food item on my plate (it’s on MY plate! Why the hell are you complaining?!).
2. Complaining that they don’t like the meal that I’ve cooked for them.
A nice, home-cooked meal would be lovely, or even just a takeaway will do! As long as I’m not cooking, I’m not fussed!
4. Tidy bedrooms
To walk into both my children’s bedrooms and see that they’ve been tidied would be a wonderful Mother’s Day treat. It would probably also cause me to die of shock, so maybe we should scrap that one from the list.
5. Absolutely no fighting
As mentioned in a previous post, there are often sibling fights. My kids love each other, but they also annoy the hell out of each other. A Mother’s Day without any fighting would be nice. If I can’t have that, then Daddy taking on the role of referee for the entire day will have to do.
6. A lie-in
A nice, long lie-in on Mother’s Day would be heaven, preferably without any noise from downstairs. Obviously, that part is unrealistic, so I’ll have to settle for a lie-in with the sound of the kids fighting or the sound of some annoying YouTuber’s voice off YouTube Kids drifting up the stairs.
7. Breakfast in bed
Brought up by the husband and delivered to me after the long lie-in. No fancy meals, just a nice hot cup of coffee and two slices of hot buttered toast will do! It’s the simple things!
8. A walk
A nice long walk with the family on Mother’s Day would be nice, preferably without any complaints! As I’ve mentioned before, long walks used to be a challenge when the kids were younger. There were lots of pauses to inspect big sticks, loads of requests for ice cream and complaints about their legs aching! It’s much better now that they’re a bit older, and we can now enjoy longish family walks. It’s definitely a great family activity for Mother’s Day (if the rain stays away!).
9. Face space
Even though my kids are a bit older now, they still love climbing all over me. I LOVE giving them hugs and kisses. But sometimes, on the days when I’m feeling a bit burnt out and the 6-year-old’s face is inches from my face, it can get a bit much. So, on Mother’s Day, I would like to announce that this human climbing frame is officially closed for the day.
10. Chocolate and coffee
It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a little bit of indulgence, would it?! A nice latte and a big bar of chocolate (and a glass of wine at the end of the day when the kids are finally in bed) would make this mother very happy!
And so…
ANY of these things would make Mother’s Day special for me. Having them all would make it truly unforgettable. But, at the risk of sounding too soppy, the most important thing is being able to spend the day with my two little patience testers.
That’s the best Mother’s Day gift of all. Well, nearly the best. I’m still hoping for that peaceful soak in the bath…
