What “Should” Moms do on Mother’s Day?

Have breakfast in bed

Go back to sleep

Wake up around noon, to the sounds of laundry being done and dinner being made

Hang out

Have leftovers for lunch

Take a nap

Wake up and go for a nice long walk

Read

Read some more while you wait for dinner

Eat dinner

Watch your favorite T.V. shows

Go to bed and sleep for 9 hours

This is what all mothers SHOULD do on Mother’s Day, right? Or something like it.

Here’s what Dr. Seuss might say about mothers. Moms come in all shapes and sizes. Working moms, career moms, and stay-at-home moms. Wanna-be moms, moms with lots of kids, moms who have lost a kid, moms raising kids with special needs. Step-moms and foster-moms. Gay moms and single moms. Or something like it.

Considering there are all types of mothers in all types of situations, what “should” mothers really do on Mother’s Day? Clearly, a one size fits all recipe isn’t going to work. Or is it? Hmm.. I do wonder what the world would look like if ALL moms all over the world stopped doing what moms do, just for one day! Can you picture the headlines the next day? Kids with Dirty Diapers Wander Streets, Teachers Upset as Kids Show up Without Homework, Hungry Children Look for Food but Restaurants Closed, Wall Street Collapses as No One Can Make a Decision (tongue in cheek). Truly, this is in no way meant to diminish what fathers contribute to families and society, but I do have a hard time imagining what the world would look like if mothers stopped doing everything they do for one entire day!

The question really is, should moms stop doing what they do for an entire day? I think not. Moms need to do what moms need to do, whether it’s on Mother’s Day or any other day. No, the world would not come to an end, but do we really need to feel like we “should” be having the perfect day, even if that isn’t what we need or want to be doing? And how many moms feel badly because that perfect day isn’t really happening for them? And, isn’t that missing the point? Should moms be appreciated and made to feel special on Mother’s Day for what they do – yes, absolutely! And on every other day as well!

So, what do mothers REALLY do on Mother’s Day? Well, it depends. But here’s one scenario:

Wake up to crying baby (or screaming kids)

Feed baby (or kids)

Try to get some more sleep

Get up and eat Something.

Get all those things done that didn’t get done during the week, if you don’t want to have to do those things during the week when you will already have more than enough to do

Juggle these tasks with getting kids to Activities – (yes, they have those even on Mother’s Day)

Eat dinner (somehow)

Read Mother’s Day cards (hopefully a few)

Go to bed exhausted, but happy to have been appreciated, and happy to be a mom