​Flowers are nice, but here is what mom really wants?

 Mother’s Day is this weekend…
Traditionally, I get flowers to plant in my window boxes.  I hope the Michigan weather cooperates...
I love this tradition...but for me what I really wants is to be close to my daughters.  

​As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I see lots of images of “babies” that are growing up.
From the prom pictures, to the caps and gowns.  This season is definitely the season of transition and change.  
Make no mistake, behind every dance recital image, behind every bride walking down the aisle, there is a woman, who secretly tousles with HER changing role.
 
There I said it.
As our children grow up, our role in Motherhood changes and quite frankly, it sucks.
It’s not an aging thing. 
It’s not an I want to go back to that time thing.
 
It’s the primal role of mothering thing. 
It’s ride or die.
It’s fierce Mama Bear.
It’s the, mess-with-my-child-and-I-will-bring-a fury-on-you-so hard-you won’t know what happened.
It’s about protecting our young.
 
If you are this kind of Mom. I see you, I salute you, and I know you are struggling.  
I am there with you.
 
For so long I was Sydney & Kendall’s mom. Now before you say it, yes, I KNOW, I am still their mother, but it is different now.
I fully loved that role. I was in charge, I was the CEO (I can be sort of a bossy pants, so I was damn good at it).
And while I am still their Mom, I can no longer be Mama Bossy Pants…. I have to let them FLY.
They will fall in love with bad boys----my mouth must stay shut.
They will waste money------I cannot bail them out as they “pay” for their mistakes.
They will do reckless things----I will pray, a lot.
 
Part of Motherhood is learning how to let go.
Did you read that? PART OF MOTHERHOOD IS LETTING GO.
It’s a redefining of one of the biggest roles in life.
 
Your mother did it, her mother did it. Every mother does it.
And every good mom knows how hard it is.
 
Who knew the hardest part of Mothering had nothing to do with sleepless nights or changing diapers.
This is life.  It moves, it shifts, it changes.
What Mom really wants is more time with her children, her babies.  
We want to know we matter in your ADULT life. 
We want to continue to make memories with ADULT children.
So, while we love flowers, what we really want is a great relationship with our children when they are all grown up.