The lilacs are blooming! Nothing represents Mother’s Day to me more than the breathtaking fragrance and gorgeous purple hues of my favorite flower, the lilac. I was fortunate to celebrate 57 Mother’s Days with my mother. I recognize what a gift it was to have her as a part of my life for so long. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were always marked with a celebration in our family. When our first child was born in 1992, suddenly I was able to share in all the focus, too!
When our children were younger I relished all the gestures to mark the “special day”: handmade cards, decorated flower pots with cheerful blossoming annuals, impressively large-stoned costume jewelry bought from the PTA fundraiser table at school, breakfast in bed, and the unhurried tender attention bestowed upon me that one Sunday in May every year.
Now that our children are grown and I’m fortunate to have them close by, we still spend Mother’s Day together. Yay! The plastic ruby rings and frames decorated with glitter glue and buttons have been replaced with activities of my choice! One year I requested that we watch old home movies, which was hilarious!! We still laugh recalling many of the candid moments and comments captured on tape (reminder to self – digitize those camcorder tapes!). Sharing an activity on Mother’s Day has included such things as a stroll through the Botanical Gardens or a Broadway show (for the record, I was the only one who enjoyed the revival of ‘Carousel’). I would choose to engage in a shared, memorable experience with my family any day over a vase, sweater or body cream.
Here’s another important clutter-free gift idea for ALL the moms out there…..self-care! Whether your children are human, furry, or feathered, as mothers we put our needs last. Mother’s Day is an ideal time to make ourselves a priority! Now is the time to book a massage and/or facial, attend a yoga class, or better yet, make reservations for a weekend yoga retreat, sign-up for the French cooking program you’ve had your eye on, splurge on a mahjong cruise, and so on. Self-care is the best kind of Mother’s Days gift we can give ourselves!
So, Happy Mother’s Day to all, and to my mother….not a day goes by when my heart doesn’t ache for you. On Mother’s Day, I will smell the lilacs and remember you with great love, respect, and gratitude.
May 11, 2018
I LOVED your story and was happily weepy toward the end. But this year, I decided that I would have mother’s day at my house. In addition to my children and grandchildren , I invited my nieces & family , (who no longer have a mom) and several friends of my children who either (1) no longer have a mom, or (2) their mother is in Florida and can not share the day. Everyone offered to bring “something” so cooking will be minimal and I decided to have my cleaning woman come to do dishes (that’s my mother’s day gift to me) . I look forward to a rather substantial house-full ,but it should be a wonderful day!
Your Mother’s Day celebration sounds wonderful, Roz!! A gathering filled with family, friends, delicious food, and love to share with everyone. That sounds just like you, Roz!! Happy Mother’s Day :-)!!
XOXO
Beautiful share, thank you Jocelyn! My thoughts will be with you this week XO
Thank you, Marie!
Happy Mother’s Day to you! I hope you get many furry hugs and cuddles on Sunday, too!!
XOXO
Lovely memories! Thanks for sharing. Happy Mother’s Day to you and thank you for acknowledging those of us who are moms to furry things rather than humans!
Thank you, Ali!!
We do love our furry children so much, don’t we?!!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
XOXO
Lovely story! I love your ideas on how to spend time together too.
Jocelyn,
Your story touched me. Each Mother’s Day my mom and dad would arrive carrying a huge bunch of the most beautiful lilacs all the way from their backyard in Brooklyn. So strong was the association of Mother’s Day with those lilacs and their fragrance that, after my parents were both gone, I requested nothing but a trip down memory lane for my big holiday gift – a visit to the fabulous Brooklyn Botanical’s fabulous lilac garden. We coupled that with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge which was also part of our family history. It was almost like spending the holiday with them.
Dear Nancy,
What a touching story!! I can absolutely relate, and I’m so glad to hear that maintaining those very special traditions makes you feel close to your parents.
Thank you for sharing!!
With that being said, I hope everyone takes the time to search out Untermyer’s Garden in Yonkers. The most beautiful garden on earth!!!!! and it’s free!!!!
Hello Pat!! Untermeyer Garden is one of my all-time favorite gardens!! It’s been a privilege and a thrill to see it evolve in recent years. I would say I visit Untermeyer at least 2-3 times a year. Maybe I’ll be lucky and run into you there 🙂
Dear Jocelyn,
What a beautiful tribute you’ve written about your mother. How fortunate I was to enjoy her friendship for so many years. I delight in knowing you also enjoy the lilacs which are such an introduction to the warmer days of Spring. I miss those flowers which I never see in a Florida garden. I miss the first daffodils and hyacinths, but I’m rejoicing here with the bougainvillea which I couldn’t grow up north.
Enjoy it all! Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Thank you for your kind words, Ruth. Last year I purchased a “boomerang lilac” tree and it promises to rebloom throughout the warm weather! It’s still quite tiny but I’m hopeful. As of now, the peony plants are getting ready to bloom, but thanks to your beautiful painting, I enjoy peonies ALL year long!! XOXO