Skylar made this for me at preschool.
My favorite piece of artwork she’s ever made for me!
I have it hanging up in the kitchen now.
I love the picture her teachers took of her. The preschool is indoors/outdoors and the kids spend lots of time outside, and I can tell they must have taken the picture earlier in the week when it was in the low 90s.
She looks happy, and warm, holding those flowers. I also love her in yellow. Blonds and yellow, yellow and white flowers, so pretty. I’m biased, of course.
It was just so touching that when I picked her up from school Friday afternoon she exclaimed, “Mommy, I made this for you! Happy Mother’s Day. You’re the best mommy ever!”
You couldn’t have scripted lines out of a movie to sound like that and it just melted me. She turned four in February so this is the first year she really “gets” Mother’s Day.
And now, it’s time for me to get cracking on chores and work.
But not without eating a No Bake Nutter Butter Special K Bars with Chocolate Frosting for energy, first.
Thanks for filling me in on what the last thing you unpacked from a box was. Lots of fun answers!
Questions:
1. How are you celebrating Mother’s Day Weekend?
I am working so don’t have tons of time to celebrate, and I live far away from my mother and sister (who has a 10 month old) so I won’t be celebrating with them.
I have so much to do before our trip, in addition to working and all the usual things I have to tackle anyway, so not much downtime for celebrations and just putting my feet up. But that’s ok!
I may “celebrate” by pre-packing suitcases a bit. Thrilling, indeed.
2. Tell me something nice about your mom, or a nice story, or a motherhood reflection if you’re a mom.
I never realized in entirety the sacrifices mothers make, all that they do, just how profound of a role motherhood is until I became one. I have so much more appreciation for everything my mom did for me from cooking my favorite foods for me to driving me to all my events to giving up things she probably wanted to do so she could be there for me and give me her undivided attention when she had 17 other things that need attention, too.
Pregnancy, childbirth, sleepless nights, cleaning up vomit, wiping butts, drying tears, cleaning owies and skinned knees, detangling snarly hair, making sacrifices, putting yourself second are just part of the motherhood deal and honestly, I don’t even “notice” or mind. It’s just part of. It just is. It’s what moms do. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!
As moms we are doing the hardest work, but also the most rewarding. If you’re a mom and reading this, you know that there are days you wonder if anything will go right.
You wonder if your work matters, if anyone notices, or if in the end, there will be some value to it all.
And the answer to all of those questions is, yes! Keep on, keeping on, moms! When they run up and hug you and tell you how much they love you, yes, it’s all worth it. It all matters. All your hard work, investment, and dedication to your children will and does pay off. If you’re a mom and you’re reading this, you are an amazing mom.
I love this little girl more than life itself. She is my purpose. She is the reason I work hard and do what I do; so that I can provide for her and give her a nice life.
I parent with love and compassion, and am trying to instill values like honesty and hard work in her, while showing her that a sense of humor and being gentle with others and ourselves helps, too. I am trying to give her a great foundation in her childhood so that she may spread her wings one days and have wonderful life when I am not around to kiss her owies or tuck her in anymore.
Picture from her birthday a couple months ago
I love you Skylar!
Happy Mother’s Day to Moms Everywhere!
Aw so sweet!! I was totally tearing up near the end there :)
My mom and I are best friends. We don’t talk as much as I’d like to. My mom is always there for me, even when she doesn’t agree with me, or thinks I’m doing something wrong. We both look very similar and we sound exactly alike on the phone. It used to bother me, but now I’m so happy I’m growing up to be like her. It’s my goal to be more like her, she’s so patient and tactful and sweet. It makes me upset thinking of all the things I’ve done that have hurt her in any way. Now that I’m a mom I realize that she understands. I never realized everything she’s done for me till I became a mom too. Now when it’s 4 in the morning after being up with a sick toddler and baby all night and my toddler asks me to stay up and rub his legs till he falls asleep because they’re sore…. I totally get it. And my son isn’t quite 4 yet but I know it’s so worth it. And it’s not a burden at all to put my kids ahead of myself or to miss out on something because of them. I still have a hard time getting my head around it, it’s so awesome :)
“Now when it’s 4 in the morning after being up with a sick toddler and baby all night and my toddler asks me to stay up and rub his legs till he falls asleep because they’re sore…. I totally get it”—YES! you have to live that in order to really get it :)
Happy Mother’s Day to you too Heidi!
this post just warms my heart in so many ways.
first, skylar’s artwork is just precious. worth a million, eh. second, thanks for sharing your own mothering reflections, averie. what a profound life experience.
my mom is one of, if not THE best friend i have. instead of writing a 1000 words, i’ll just say that she is ALWAYS there – to talk, to shop, to laugh, to analyze…i just so appreciate her love.
happy happy mother’s day! enjoy amidst the chaos!
Happy Mothers Day to you! Last year at school, I went through a really hard break-up. Even though my Mom is not the type to baby me or make a big deal when I’m sad (think: tough love) she and the family came up to visit three days later. I never needed my mommy more to remind me that a) there are cooler people who love me, and b) I will have many many more fun days in the future!
Averie, your daughter is so beautiful…I can see how much joy she brings to your life; you must be so proud of her! I can’t wait to be a mom someday!!
Also, your post made me tear up a little. I also live far from my mom and won’t get to see her tomorrow, but I sent a card of course and will call. I’ll see her over Memorial Day weekend too so not too long. My mom is amazing. She always took such an interest in all of us when we were growing up, getting involved in our teams, driving us anywhere we needed to go, etc. I butted heads with her alot as a teen but whenever I was feeling down, she selflessly looked past my snottiness and did something to cheer me up. Specifically, I remember one time when I was in high school (maybe sophomore year?), and my friends had cancelled plans on me and I was feeling really low, like no one liked me, and I was crying. My mom told me she would always be my friend and took me out to see a movie. I appreciate things like that so much now.
Omg your comment made me cry, too! Hallmark fest over here :)
“I remember one time when I was in high school (maybe sophomore year?), and my friends had cancelled plans on me and I was feeling really low, like no one liked me, and I was crying. My mom told me she would always be my friend and took me out to see a movie. I appreciate things like that so much now.”–
That’s the kind of mom I want to be. So happy your mom and you have such a special relationship!
Your little girl has just the sweetest, happiest, brightest smile!
Such a cute wreath!! She has one awesome mother. :)
Happy Mother’s Day! What a fantastic present from Skylar. I am pregnant with my first, and excited for all the things to come :)
congrats!!!!!!! have fun celebrating your 1st mother’s day this year :)
what a great gift!! I remember making things like that for my mom when I was younger!
Averie I hope you have a wonderful mothers day!
I love reading your blog, and I havent commented on it before, but I thought this post was awesome! The picture of you and Skylar remind me of my mom and I! We are both blonde, and I am super tall, we also share an awesome bond that I can see you and your daughter do as well! I am only 19 years old, and I would say my mom is my very best friend. I am so thankful to have her in my life, and I bet Skylar will feel the same way as she grows up!
Happy Mothers Day!
thanks for delurking and the nice comment :)
That is so sweet! Jordan made a pretzel flower bouquet in a vase with a picture of him on a flower – I will post pictures later… it is super cute!
I cannot believe how grown up she is looking! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day, mama!
Aw, you’re making me really sentimental right now! This post is so sweet; I love the artwork Skylar created for you, and what she said to you when you picked her up. I am glad she sees what an amazing mother she has; although with how often you post pictures of her with the biggest, most heartwarming smile ever, I already knew that ;)
Unfortunately, I’ll be spending tomorrow photographing a horse show instead of going on a nice trail ride (or something) with my mother :( We had a mini-celebration tonight and I made her her favorite “wormy things” (what she calls quinoa, it’s the “chickpea-quinoa pilaf from veganomicon. she requests it every chance she gets.)
I am so grateful that my mom has put up with all I’ve put her through. I haven’t always had the best attitude or been the most respectful daughter (everybody goes through those years…right?); but I’m really glad she was firm with me, too. Otherwise I’d probably be a loose cannon right now :P
wormy things…lol
i need to pick up V’con. The only “bible” I dont have in my arsenal :) you are so sweet to have cooked for her.
“everybody goes through those years…right?); “– YES!!!
BEAUTIFUL artwork from dear Skylar – she has an amazing mother and I know she realizes that :)
For Mother’s Day = my mom, dad, Suave Slav, my brother, sister-in-law, and 2 nephews are all going out to lunch.
Skylar is going to LOVE being able to read this in the future! I won’t be home for mother’s day but I bought my mom a gift certificate to the spa and will celebrate with her later in the week. I love my mom so much!
Such a nice post – and you are showing just how much moms sacrifice by making this post about your daughter instead of you. I can’t wait to be a mother someday. My mom and I have an incredible bond and I can’t wait until I have the same with a daughter some day.
you are going to make an amazing mom! i know how close you are w/ your mom already…it will just grow once you have your own :)
xo
that artwork is so precious!!! skylar is such a beautiful littlegirl…love the pic with the flowers!
i’m taking my mom out for a manicure tomorrow…she’s working tonight and tomorrow night so i can’t take her to dinner or spend too much time with her. i still to this day have NO clue how mothers do legit EVERYTHING for families – you are all superwomen!! if someone told me today i had to be a mother, there’s no way i could do it (still too young anyway).
happy mothers day to you!!!
awww, a mani together…so nice
and thanks for saying what you said about us moms :)
I saw my mother today. She’s signed up for her second Ashtanga yoga beginner’s course and is so excited to be getting better at it. She also bought a bag of kale to make kale chips with. She’s basically turning into a blogger, haha :-)
omg I want to hang out with your mom (and you too of course)!
ashtanga is the kind of yoga I DO! I do all kinds, but that’s where my passion is. I would love to practice with her one day. And eat kale chips together.
So cool, Evan. Your mom sounds awesome..and like a blogger. lol