Mother's Day is what? Huh?

Happy Mother's Day...Liam? no! Me? ah still no! You, Mama??

This morning we had a lovely Mother's Day morning at Romeo's school. It started at 8am - entirely too early for a Mother's Day celebration really, but since it had to occur prior to class that's a mother's life I guess!

Romeo was quite keen to participate and so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to spend one-on-one time with him. I also thought it a good time to stay and do some mother help at school afterwards....the kind of 'spying' to see what my son does in class (although my daily questioning of him and 20 questions for his teacher most days probably means I know more than most even think to ask!).

So the Mother's Day morning offered hot coffee/tea/chocolate, marshmallows and muffins. Needless to say the kids were well-impressed and a fair few had more than two helpings of the treats! The amount of googly-eyed kids was classically funny.

There was card-making, paper-flower construction and bookmark-making. I wanted a bookmark. Romeo decided he wanted to make a card for his friend Liam - because he was at our table too. I said 'no'. So he decided to make one for himself, to which I again said 'ah, no'! Finally we settled on a card for me (surprise!), with green card because that's one of Romeo's favourite colours (hmmmm, okay I'll agree to that one). Romeo settled on drawing a flower for me...aha no prompting...yup getting closer to the concept here!

I now realise that because Mother's Day has never really been about thinking about mama or making/buying/doing things for me, the kids really haven't grasped the concept of it yet. I suppose age also factors in to it.
This morning my mother kindly asked what I wanted for Mother's Day this year....yes she buys the gifts for me on behalf of the kids (though last year she did take Romeo to choose something). So I said, 'that's okay, this year I will send the kids with their Father to buy something'. I will make suggestions to Romeo - because he remembers and insists (useful trait!) - and hope for the best after that!

I realise that I think it is important that they celebrate certain things, not for the gifts or even the doing of things, but because it is another opportunity to remember to respect and understand or think about why we appreciate.
The senior children at school made a video for Mother's Day, asking children what the day or their Mum means to them. Romeo said his mother means making breakfast and it's about chocolate cake! Ummmm what???
That got a roar of laughter from the hall of mothers! Of course I hope and will take it to mean that he will be making me breakfast and chocolate cake (though we have never made/eaten/bought chocolate cake so heaven knows where that came from)!

I know he loves me, so it doesn't matter whether he understands or not (one day I will make sure he does). I spent a lovely morning doing mother help, including spelling tests on his group and peeking at his maths worksheets as I filed them away. His skill and knowledge represents our family values, as do his unwavering manners, that's a silent appreciation in itself even if it is only me that realises that right now!

I stayed for morning tea, after alot of begging went on - his not mine for once - and then his frown as I went to leave lightened my heart even more.

A frown says a thousand words!

Yes and yes and yes - he loves me, I love him, we love each other. No doubt.

Let's see what Sunday brings about.....

Ed. xx