Mike Parker: Early May – My wife’s favorite time
Early May – My wife’s favorite time
May is my wife’s favorite month. Within two weeks, Sandra has two big days. May 1st is her birthday. The second Sunday is Mother’s Day. So, for two weeks, she is the queen – the center of the universe for each day’s celebration.
Unlike others in the family, Sandra is the only one with a birthday in May. We have two birthdays in January, four birthdays in February, four birthdays in March, and three birthdays in April. We have so many birthdays in such a short time that we often resort to group celebrations to find a way to observe them all.
Not with Sandra. She has the only birthday in May – and she never lets us forget. She looks forward to cards … and presents … and food. This coming Sunday will be Mother’s Day. We have several mothers in our family. Beginning with the matriarch on my side, we can easily count six mothers in our immediate family: my mom Irene, Sandra, and then Sara, Rachel, Lydia and Pam. Since Sandra is the queen mother of this vicinity, she gets to wear the equivalent of the crown. She is our family’s mother of mothers.
Erma Bombeck wrote a book titled “Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession.” Even though the book appeared in 1983, I still marvel at her insights into the human condition.
For instance, Bombeck claims that guilt is the gift that keeps on giving. That observation started me wondering: Do mothers have a special school that teaches them how to use guilt as a weapon? Do mothers receive a book that maps out various guilt trips?
“Son, can you come for dinner Wednesday?”
“No, Mom. I have to work late that evening.”
“Well, I know how busy you are … and you have so many important things to do.”
Oh, the subtlety – the implication that somehow putting earning a living before a visit with mom cheapens the value of spending time with mom.
Then, we have the mother’s universal curse: “I hope you have a child … just like you.”
I look with amusement at my children and their children. They all have at least one just like they were as children. One has a child who doesn’t like school – just like she hated school. Another has a take-care big sister – just like she was. Still another has a stubborn child who folds her arms and drops her head when she is instructed to do something – just like she did.
Ah, Mother’s Day, the holiday that gives us a chance to consider the affections – and ironies – of life.
I am happy to report that Sandra has stopped the guilt trips. She has come to value every moment our children and grandchildren can spend with us – especially her.
We treasure every laugh, every giggle, every smile. Each one enriches our lives.
As a wife and mother, Sandra has given so much of herself to her family. She was the model for motherhood that influenced our daughters into becoming the mothers they are today.
I can only hope that when our granddaughters take the plunge into motherhood, they will remember their Grandma, or Grammy, or MeMaw – she has been called all three.
I wish her Happy Birthday – and Happy Mother’s Day.
We all love you.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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