I know I am supposed to smile appreciatively as I receive all of the “Happy Mother’s Day!” greetings this weekend, and I do.  Don’t get me wrong, I love being a Mommy and nothing in the world means more to me than being a Mom to my kids.  This time of year is always bittersweet for me because it makes me miss my own Mom.  I start to think of how my life and the lives of my children would be if she were still here. 

I try to explain to my kids just how wonderful she was and how she would have loved them immensely and unconditionally, just as I do.  How she had the kindest heart of anyone I have ever known.  How, with just a loving glance, she could calm my wildest fears.  How she gave the best and most fair advice and was my best friend in the whole world.

I try to pass on to them the morals and values instilled upon me by her and I suppose, in a way, it makes them a little closer to knowing her.  I know also, that if she could see how sad I am around this time of year because I miss her, she would say  “Now that is just a silly waste of time.  You have gone and spent your entire Mother’s Day moping around thinking about me instead of enjoying it yourself with your beautiful children.”  And she would be right, as usual.

So instead of “moping around” this year, I fully intend to appreciate what (who) I do have and try really hard not to think of what (who) I do not.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you, especially to the Mommies who are missing their Mommies!