My First Mother's Day

I wasn't sure what to expect on Mother's Day. I thought it would similar to a birthday, a day to get gifts, relax and be a bit spoiled. But when I woke and started to think of the day, I realized it was going to have a vibe all of its own. It felt much bigger than just me- I am a part of a whole now- I am a mother. It was so neat to celebrate with other mothers- like sharing your birthday with so many other special people! What fun to share and honor each other! It felt very global in thinking of mothers all over the world and circular in the sense of thinking of my mom while also being a mom. My mom is having her first mother's day without her mom. And thinking of Nori being a mom someday. What a beautiful gift to be in this circle of life- having the gift to be able to reproduce and nurture while at the same time being nurtured by my mom. It is neat how much I have felt like I needed my mom as I became a mom this year and how I can understand her in a deeper way now.
It also felt like a day to spend more time with Nori and pray for her in a special way. It was a day to give thanks for her and the gift she gives me in being able to be her mom. I also felt vulnerable in considering the task before us-to nurture and raise her knowing that we will fall short in so many ways. But that in the process of mothering I will learn so much about myself.
Of course, I was also spoiled a bit. Pete won the "son-in-law of the year award" by driving to my parents' house and back this weekend. He drove a uhaul truck both ways to bring back furniture that we inherited from my grandparents. On top of that he took me to buy flowers for our backyard and we went out for sushi- yummy!
But the best surprise of the day was finding out that my best friend since childhood, Jess, is going to become a mother! I am thrilled to share this journey of mothering with her, something we have talked about together since the third grade.