accenting life: first mother's day

In the past, I often partake in Mother's Day by rushing to the mall trying to find something nice and meaningful for my mother. Every so often, I would be pressed for time and lack of resources at the shops make me resorted to giving cash. But, Mother's Day had always been about MY mother and my quest to do something special for her to celebrate her as a mother. In a sense, I have always been on the outside looking into this beautiful day where women are celebrated as mothers.

This year, I am in. I am part-taking as a new member of the group. I am one of the mothers, wearing my new "mother" badge proudly. On Sunday morning, I opened my phone to greeting messages from friends and families such as "happy first mother's day" and "you are a great mom." My mother-in-law called me yesterday to wish me the same, and she said something that just touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. She said she was proud of me and could not have asked for a better mother for her only granddaughter. It meant a lot, to be validated that I am indeed getting this whole mothering thing because half of the time, I don't even know what I'm doing and I feel like I'm swimming in open waters without any life jacket on and there's no land in sight.

I didn't do anything special by any commercial standard, nor did I get a material gift would remind me of this day. What I did get is a bunch of beautiful memories that etched itself into my brain and my heart. I get to be with my family. Rolling in bed with my girl at the sight of the first morning light, feeling her rolled her little body against my torso seeking warmth and finally settled peacefully when it is found, seeing sleepy eyes constantly batting trying to adjust to the morning rays.

As always on every weekend day, we burrowed just a little longer, resulting us having to rush ourselves to shower and get dressed to meet my mother for our Mother's day brunch. We made it in time, but not without a whole lot of yelling and an occasional cursing at whatever thing delaying us from where we stood to the door.

Apart from a little simple celebration over brunch, our day remained uneventful, which is the best mother's day gift this busy girl can ask for, for some time to recharge, pause, feel love, and celebrate in an intentional way.

Our day ended with a nice warm bath for the little body, where she played with her rubber ducky and I reveled in the few minutes I get to spend with her. She splashed the water, occasionally looking up at me flashing me her big somewhat toothless grin and then went back back to splashing once more. We read, we hang out on the floor, we fixed dinner/heating up left over, and retired to bed again where little body curled up beside me occasionally looking up to make sure I'm still there. We fell asleep early, to whatever noise that came out of our TV, and dream the little dreams of the wonderful day just passed and the days ahead.