some thoughts on Mothers Day

midlife blog ~ cresting the hill
My mum and me - a couple of years ago
Mothers Day brings all kind of feelings my way. I get caught up in waiting for my "kids" to call and reading posts on facebook from friends who have their kids nearby and put up happy snaps. I always seem to want more from the day than what it actually provides.

The funny thing is that I don't really spend all that much time thinking about my own mum and how she's feeling on the day. I always buy her a present and give her a call.  Sometimes I make the trip to see her in person but often that has to wait a while and for the day it's a  phone call - just like I get from my kids.

My mum and I seem to have grown closer over the years, I certainly don't remember having the same strong relationship with her that I've had with my daughter all through the years. I know that during my childhood, teens and through the first couple of decades of adulthood she was present but not really deeply connected. That seems to have changed since my dad developed Alzheimers and became less of a focus for her and she started needing more companionship from my brothers and myself. It also ties in with the passing of her own mother, and I suppose she now has more time to think about me and to talk about stuff, and through that we have drawn closer.

A few years ago we went on a trip together (photo above from the many we took!) and that was a really special time where we discovered that we didn't drive each other crazy being together all the time and we settled into a new stage of mother/daughter relationship. She also discovered that she loves overseas travel and has been zipping off every chance she's had since then.

This year she is off cruising through Canada and Alaska and is away for Mothers Day. She's not an internet user, so I'll need to wait until she gets home to wish her the best and thank her for all the years of care and support. We're quite different people and her style of parenting has made me a very independent woman but there is still that bond between us that is growing stronger as the years go by.

With mum away I'm spending time reminiscing about my own kids and their childhood down here in the country. I dug out an old photo taken in 1991 - just before we headed off to the local fair - a big day's outing for us! Being a mum is a wonderful blessing (although it has its trials at times)  and I'm hugely thankful for my children - it's hard to believe so many years have slipped by without me noticing. So happy Mothers Day to my mum on the other side of the world, to me here at home with my kids in the city, to all the mums celebrating today in Australia, and to the other mums who are celebrating elsewhere in the world. Mums are great!!

midlife blog ~ cresting the hill
Happy Mothers Day!

8 comments

  1. Moms are great, Leanne! Thank you for sharing yours! Where is she visiting in Canada? Anywhere near Edmonton?

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    1. Thanks Diane - I'm not sure where she is at the time being (she is very non-internet savvy!) but she's doing the Canada/Alaska train trip and cruise that is very popular with Aussies

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  2. Happy Mother's Day Leanne! Love the pictures especially you and your children. I hope you had a great day!

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    1. Thanks Rena - hope your day was great too.

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    1. Thanks Lana - hope you had a wonderful day too

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  4. I am glad to read that your mother is well enough to go on adventures. I hope she's having a great time abroad. Thanks for sharing a throwback pic of you and your kids. All my best to you and your family.

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  5. What a great photo of you and your kids! I hope your day was just how you wanted it yesterday~

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