Mother's Day Weekend

So it's Mother's Day weekend. Here come the gifts, the excitement, the disappointments....and what is it really about?....

So I had in mind that I would get this huge spa package. 5+ hours of heavenly bliss. A Swedish massage could surely ease all the tension off of me...if only for a few hours. Sea duty (at least in the fighter community) is hard. The hours are long, I hardly see my kids, and I feel like the worst mother ever. And what do I want for this weekend? A spa package.

My husband forgets that he has to set up an appointment, pay a down payment in advance, whatever. He forgets all of that...as if I could just waltz right in, lay down and have the beautiful day commence. I was slightly irritated. I have been wanting a massage since I was pregnant with baby number one...even though baby number two is already 14 months old. Ah, the ever old procrastinator. What can one do?

But perhaps this is all a blessing in disguise. I was looking up all of these spas to see if I could squeeze in a spot. Perhaps they were not all booked? And half way through I just start crying. What is Mother's Day...to me, anyway? Shouldn't it be a day that I am grateful for what lets me be the center of the holiday?

I work night check hours...so that means that I get off in the wee hours of the morning. I do not usually keep my children right away. When I do, I am irritable and extremely tired. Some nights I get off at midnight and am able to keep them during the day. Some nights I get off way too late and do not see them at all until the NEXT day.

So I cry. Why do I want another chunk of time away from my children? I then decide to just relish Cayden's delicious baby scent. I am going to make sure to capture Christian's giant smile in my mind and tuck it away so that when I deploy I can remember his little dimple, his bright shining eyes. I am going to pick them up, smother them in hugs and kisses. I am going to spend this weekend being appreciative of being a mother.

Besides, without these two blessings, I wouldn't have a day, would I?

...plus, my husband bought me a camera and let me open it already.

I hope everyone spends Mother's Day weekend, not only appreciating the gifts that they have received, but also soaking up the little joys that give us all a day to be appreciated.