THE 17-DAY SURVIVAL SEASON: MOTHER’S DAY IS NOT QUIET THIS YEAR

Every year Mother’s Day shows up like it’s supposed to be soft and pretty. But most moms are already deep in the 17-day stretch where nothing feels soft anymore. At least this is how it works in my home. How about yours?

If your children are going to school lunches are still being packed like its January. Homework is still appearing like it’s multiplying. And somehow everyone is acting like summer has already started except the calendar.

So, the real Mother’s Day gifts right now don’t need wrapping paper. They need relief. A swimsuit that fits without a dressing room meltdown. If such a thing even exists.

A gift card to her favorite restaurant—even if nobody else in the house likes it—because one meal without negotiating food is its own kind of peace. It isn’t going to kill you to eat something mom likes once a year.

A pair of Crocs or her favorite sandals she can actually just step into when everything feels like too much effort to function correctly.

A “mom juice moment” that is really just five minutes where nobody needs anything from her. Wine is okay or Tequila.

Or something even simpler:

A kid saying, without being reminded, “I already handled everything I was supposed to today.”

Not because it’s sentimental.

Because it removes one thing from her list.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates