Mother's Day Manifesto

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching. May 10th. This is for my family.

*ahem* (cough cough cough)

So, in order to avoid the fight that punctuated the end (with an exclamation point!) of last year's Mother's Day I wanted to write this down for you.

This year, for Mother's Day, I do not expect for you to buy me things. I do not need you to spend money that we do not have on things I do not need (but would love, obviously). I do not need flowers or jewelry or spa gift certificates. I do not relish the idea of standing in line at Perkins to eat breakfast on Mother's Day. I do not think that eating out is a fabulous use of our funds, either. Instead, let me propose the following:

On Mother's Day, I would like to not be thought of last. I spend all year making sure the rest of you come first. Your food, your clothes, your needs, your wants, your desires - all five of you .. on Mother's Day? I would like it to be me first. One day out of 365 doesn't seem like too much to ask. I would like some advance thought put into it, instead of realizing the night before that, while you bought a card for your mother, you haven't given a single thought as to what to do for me. I would like you (husband) to remember that the littles can't do much on their own so you have to take the initiative and get them moving. I don't want or desire store bought cards...no. I would LOVE a hand-drawn picture from them.

This Mother's Day, in lieu of spending the day rushing around to get me a present, I would adore for you all to just.. do my chores for me. Do the dishes, make the meals, clean the kitchen, clean the bathroom and the entry way, clean up the living room. Just... do it FOR me. Don't LET me do any of those things. Clean my van! Do the laundry! Clean the tub! Whatever. Oh! Oh! Oh! Girls? Clean your room withought fighting!!!!!!! Oh. My. Barbie. That would be a present in itself.

A nap? That would be a definite bonus, I assure you.

If, after all of these ideas, you feel you MUST spend money on me - just buy me the plants I need for my front porch and spend time with me planting them. That's all.

I don't need much. I don't ask for much. I try to DO much for you all throughout the year, I just want to feel appreciated for one, single solitary day out of three hundred and sixty five.

I would like, for once, to not be an afterthought.

Thanks.

Your loving Wife

and

Mom