Happy Mothers Day from a very short soap box

I have seen several of my friends or people I know in other manners grow up and drift away from their families. I've heard people say, "I have just grown up now." or "I have a new family with my husband and/or children now." or "My family doesn't understand my life now or where/who I am now." This both disgusts me and makes me sad. It's mother's day weekend which has me thinking about my mother, her mother, myself as a mother, parenting and family in general. It doesn't matter how old you are, who you are now vs. who you were as a kid, who you married or where you live. None of us would be what we are now if it weren't for the family that raised us, loved us and supported us thru every scraped knee, school play, dance recital, football game, school dance, slumber party, broken heart, science fair project, and day to day life of being a growing kid. Just because we marry or start families of our own doesn't mean that we know better than our parents did. I am thankful to my parents for allowing me the freedom to grow and change and become my own person. I'm also thankful for their protective nature and their interest in my life. I'm irritated with those that have loving parents that just walk away because they think what they have now is better. Young adults underestimate the understanding of their parents. There are plenty of people out there that have horrible parents that weren't there and didn't care. For those of us that did have kind caring parents that have judged our families or simply walked away, shame on you. How is it so easy to lose sight of the blessing of a family that cares? I have to say that is laziness and pure selfishness. If you weren't beaten, abused, raped, molested or neglected and you've decided your family isn't good enough for your grown up life then your soap box has gotten far too high. There are way worse things in life than being loved too much.

So, it's Mother's Day. Tell your mother you love her, even if you haven't talked to her in a long time. Tell your grandmother that you love her while you have the opportunity. People aren't around forever to take for granted. Soften up, get a little mushy this weekend. Buy some construction paper, glitter and glue. Get out the markers. Make your mom a card just like you did when you were 5. It will make her feel like she has a place in the world and that someone appreciates all the sleepless baby nights, carpools, homemade cookies, house cleaning, and countless other things that go unnoticed in a mother's life. Chances are the majority of her life revolves around you. So give her back at least part of your day this weekend with a phone call or a hug.

Maybe I'm speaking directly at a handful of people I know. Maybe I'm just speaking in general. I just know that being a mother is the most special thing in the world and no Mom should go unnoticed this weekend.

Happy Mother's Day to all!