For 27 years I have been celebrating Mother's Day as a daughter, spoiling my mum. I remember when I was little we'd get up early, go downstairs with dad and pick some flowers from the garden, pop them in a little vase and make breakfast in bed for mum. We'd put the flowers we'd just ragged out of the garden on the tray of toast, cereal, coffee and orange juice; and all pile up to wake mum.
One year I remember taking my tape player (so 90s) and little tinny battery-operated microphone downstairs and singing Mama by Spice Girls to her while she was on the toilet. I was obviously at the age where I recognised the lyrics and the sentiment behind them, but not quite old enough to understand personal space yet.
Every year as a child I used to ask why there was a Mother's Day and not a daughter's day (we'd have the same conversation on Father's Day, too).
My dad used to say, every time, "every day is daughter's day" and I'd scowl.
I remember thinking it wasn't. I didn't get showered with presents or extra attention every day of the year, and nobody ever made me breakfast in bed. And it just wasn't fair.
Well, seven-year-old me, it all makes sense now. Every day actually, is in fact, daughter's day (and son's day), especially when you are a child.
Every day of my life now centres around Peyton and her needs. My day runs entirely to her schedule, my social life needs planning around her childcare, and practically all our disposable income is now spent on feeding/clothing/entertaining/caring for her.
My dad was right.
I understand even more now what Mother's Day is all about. It's not just about picking flowers from the garden and breakfast in bed; or going for Sunday dinner and giving your mum chocolates.
It's about showing your appreciation and love for your mum, for thanking them for everything they do, the sacrifices they make, and letting them have a day off (of sorts, cos we all know there's no real day off when you're a parent!)
Mums are superheroes and we definitely deserve to be celebrated, thanked and shown our appreciation of. Because, some days, we just need to know we're doing a good job.
I can only imagine how painful Mother's Day (and Father's Day) is for those who have lost parents. As I've gotten older, I've loved celebrating Mother's Day with my mum. We always go out somewhere for drinks/afternoon tea/dinner/shopping and it's so nice to have the excuse for mother-daughter time. It's so nice to thank my mum and spoil her. So, for those who've lost their mums, it must be a dark day.
Likewise, for those women who are mums to angel babies, and babies who were too precious for this earth. As lovely a day as it can be for some of us, for another section of the population it's a difficult day.
There'll be people waking up tomorrow marking the first Mother's Day without a mum, or a child, and it'll be really difficult.
So, while I'm feeling incredibly blessed to have my gorgeous girl and to get to spend our first Mother's Day together, I'll also remember those for whom it's going to be a hard day.
So, whether it's your first Mother's Day with a little one, your first without your mum, your first without your baby, or your first that should have been, I hope tomorrow is everything you want it to be; whether that be a day all about you, or a day that's just like any other Sunday.
Lots of love to you all x
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