Mother's Day

So it's mid-day on Mother's Day.  But let me tell you about mid-night Mother's Day Eve.  Around 12:00 am Isis awoke with her signature cough...the cough that accompanies every single sinus infection the poor child ever gets....the cough that is not quieted by anti-biotics, cough drops, benedryl, inhalers, cough syrup, popsicles, ice cubes, or any lemon-honey concoction...the cough that left Chris with three hours of sleep only to still get up early with the girls.  Can I officially give him the Father of the Year award on Mother's Day?

Upon waking up today Isis ran to me and hugged me and said Happy Mother's Day.  She then presented me with a gift she had wrapped herself.  It was a bookmark that she keeps on her art table.  She said she didn't need it anymore and that I could have it.  Shortly after I heard little feet tiptoeing from the kitchen.  They were carrying the tiny hands that carried a bowl of Rice Krispies to me on the couch.  There isn't any gift in the world that I needed today other than seeing my oldest daughter realizing that today was for someone else, not her.

After breakfast we headed out into the fields to pick asparagus...not exactly a typical Sunday morning activity but a good alternative when you can't take a coughing child to church.  As a family we traipsed through the field.  I can't tell you how many times we stopped to fix shoes, wipe noses, fix backpacks, give piggy-backs, find boots, get walking sticks, take off coats, put on coats, tend to stuffed animals, pick up fallen children, and quiet complaining children.  Sometimes Chris tells me that when we ask God for patience, He just gives us situations that require more patience.  In other words, we must first strengthen our patience before it comes easily.

On our way back into the house we stopped by our barn to visit our new chickens.  Isis timidly walked into the coop and browsed the nesting boxes.  To her surprise she found a freshly laid egg.  She scooped it up and yelled, Emma laid an egg!!  She tucked it carefully into her coat pocket.  As she headed out the door she turned to the chickens and said, Thanks for the egg.  I'm pretty sure that was unintentional present number two.  My child just thanked her food source and is developing a sense of appreciation.

For the past several weeks my computer has been bombarded with Mother's Day ads...coupons for cards, flowers, spa treatments, dinners, blah, blah, blah. I can honestly say that some years I have needed a break or a little extra pampering.  But for me today as I sit and listen to Isis cough for the seventh hour today, it is a reminder of what Mother's Day with little ones is all about.  Later today Eliza wants to take me out for frozen yogurt.  I'm sure prior to that there will be more crying, more nose wiping, more coughing and more damage control. I'm hoping that among it all Eliza will choose not to bite Isis any more.  But who knows.  You can call it Mother's Day, but it's still everyday.  And the truth is Mother's Day could never exist and every ounce of energy I spend on these two would be worth it.