Undoubtedly, one of the scariest things about being a mother is having to have all the answers – or at least seeming to have all the answers.
Growing up, I remember my own mother performing minor miracles with little support, little money and seven little mouths to feed. Not that I thought of it as a minor miracle back then, mind you. Then, it was just what mum did. Performing her special mum magic, pulling impossible rabbits out of sometimes non-existent hats.
Very rarely, if ever, do we as children stop to consider the ‘her’ in our Mother, or consider that our mother might still feel like a kid herself.
I thought it was only relatively young women who felt this way, but I was speaking to a friend, who has already kicked her 80s into touch, and she also said the same. That inwardly she still felt like a girl inside. The girl she once was.
As my twin sister and I hit 50 on Saturday, I marvel at where all the years have gone. It seems a moment ago we were in our shared room listening to a singing card choking out ’21 today…21today’, and while I am not harkening for lost youth, I realise it is never truly lost if we don’t actually feel that different inside. No matter our age.
Okay, I probably wouldn’t kick off my heels, hitch up my skirt and slide down company bannisters now, but I’d like to!
All of that to say, whatever gesture, gift or card you give your mother this Mothering Sunday, make it really special by not just generically honouring the mum in your mother, but also the ‘her’ in your mother. Consider her individual tastes and personality.
And further consider that the twinkle in her eye represents not just the woman she once was, but probably still is.
