Three grown sons and three little pigs on a Covid Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day 2020 and snowflakes dance through the air. The buds on the trees have zipped up their parkas and the smell of wood smoke escapes from the chimney that is normally resting at this time of year.
Bacon and eggs are cooking on the stove as they do most Mother’s Day mornings with my husband manning the frying pan. I have three sons who are now young men; one at home, one at work and the third in Lennoxville in his apartment physical distancing. During COVID shopping for gifts, cards and special something’s are just not the priority this year.
I woke up this morning thinking about the year that my second son had made me a Mother’s Day card in Kindergarten. The front of the card was adorned with a red heart and rose (his own creation) and it said along the front of the card, “I love……….” I opened it expecting to read, “You.” Instead, the inside of the card said,
spelled correctly, “convertibles.” I got up this morning and found the card in a memory box and enjoyed it as much 20+ years later as I did the day he gave it to me. In the same box I found a book my youngest son had created about his parents. The stick figures were quite lifelike and there was an arrow pointing me the one of me with a caption that said, “Mom, you are the round one.”
Sitting in the living room the phone rings as the eldest is first to remember that it is Mother’s Day. He informs me that he went to a thrift shop and found a mug, “just like the one I had when he was a kid that got broken.” He saw it and thought of me. He sends me a photo and sure enough, it is exactly like my favourite old mug that I used for tea all those years ago. As familiar as an old friend, just seeing it brings back memories of sipping my tea and watching the boys playing together outside when they were young.
As our conversation ends, another call comes in. It is son number two calling from the wharf where he is proud to be working receiving fishermen in their boats heading out on the lake despite the cold temperatures; eager to get the season started. “I’m going to stop by and fix the fence on the way home,” he offers. In those words lies his gift, no fancy bows or flashy wrapping paper but rather a deed that needs doing to help the family out.
Son number three, the youngest has recently become a parent himself. No, no children yet but rather the proud owner of three piglets. He prepares their food being extra cautious of its nutritional value. He invents playthings to keep them occupied and learning. He snaps photos and videos marvelling at their intelligence in awe of every accomplishment. His Mother’s Day gift comes in words; a simple “Happy
Mother’s Day” sums it up. He has little ones of his own to take care of so no time for sentiment.
The email messages and phone calls roll in as most mothers’ I know take the time to wish other mother’s a joyful day. I receive snapshots of homemade gifts, ingenious creations and heartfelt expressions of love being created to bring to Moms’ everywhere. Colorful flowers to bring light to an otherwise dreary Sunday.
Being a Mom has been the most joyous experience of my life. From raising my three sons to being a part of the lives of the children in my community through the CABMN Youth Centre over the past 35 years, I realise that children are the riches in life.
Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all and reminding you that whether or not you have children of your own, mothering of pets and other people’s children makes you a Mom too.