Don’t get me wrong: I’d never turn down a massage, chocolate, diamonds or the offer to sleep in. I mean, I may look like I’ve lost my mind, but it’s still rattling around in my head somewhere.
But Mother’s Day isn’t just about all of the bells, whistles and foot rubs. (Though I did mention that a foot rub would be nice, right? Honey, are you reading this?) For me, it’s about the little guy with the killer dimples who calls me Mom. I want to celebrate with him—and celebrate him. Because without him, I certainly would not be in this place, in the middle of this momsanity, in all of my glorious exhaustion.
And all I really want for Mother’s Day is for him to be happy, for him to be safe and for his life to be amazing in every way that he dreams of. It’s what we all want for our kids, of course.
It’s on my mind this week, yes, but it’s on my mind every week. Here’s what I wish for him as I blow out my proverbial Mother’s Day candle this year.
I WANT MY CHILD TO…
Be silly and enjoy a big belly-laugh every day of his life.
Never lose the excitement he always has when he wakes up.
Know that there’s nothing wrong with playing with dolls, hugging his friends and loving musical theater. Life isn’t gender-specific.
Give his trust to the right people and know what it is to have a true friend—and be a true friend.
Dance in the rain and catch snowflakes with his tongue. (Though no more snowflakes for a good, long while, Mother Nature, OK?)
Have the curiosity of George, with just a touch of the troublemaking. Because let’s be honest, a little bit of trouble is fun…even if I’ll never tell him that.
Overcome his fears and jump into life headfirst. Just to clarify: I’m talking figuratively headfirst, not literally, please.
Get everything his little heart desires while also being grateful for all of it.
Have the courage to stand up for his beliefs and the morality to know when to stand up for others.
Find joy in his chosen career—fingers crossed that it’s not acting, like his mom—but know that I’ll support him in whatever he chooses. Though architect, doctor, mad scientist or John Williams–esque composer all have a particularly nice ring to them, in my opinion.
Learn the hard lessons in life without too much physical and emotional pain. (The easy hard way?)
Understand that I might be sometimes disappointed in his actions but that he could never possibly be a disappointment to me.
Maintain perspective when people are awful, work is tough and obstacles abound. It will all pass, and those experiences really do make a person stronger in the end.
Know that I would throw myself in front a bus, flaming arrows and hungry leopards to protect him…and that I often concoct all of these worst-case scenarios in my head so that I’m ready, just in case. (Hey, you never know.)
Love the thousands of hugs and kisses I dole out on a daily basis, and let me still get in one or two a day even when he’s all grown up and might find them embarrassing.
Know that I love him with my whole heart and every ounce of my being, and that he deserves that kind of love in his life always and not just from me.
Find a soul mate—many, many years from now—whose eyes I don’t want to claw out.
Know that being his mom means everything (and then somehow exponentially more) to me.
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