Mother’s Day 2014

I have a mother.  I am a mother.  My daughters will (most likely) later be mothers. 

My mother-in-law sent me a card.  I sent her a card.  I painted a pot to give to my mother.  My daughter took me to dinner.  My son bought me flowers.  All lovely gestures.  I don’t see why gestures are necessary on Mother’s Day.  I love those women, and (I assume) they love me.  I am okay with that.  I would actually prefer it if they would spontaneously show me their love in a more daily way, rather than being told by the American Capitalist Industry that it’s time to purchase a card or buy some market-inflated flowers (which will go down in price by half tomorrow).  I also don’t want to feel guilty about staying home, just because my brother is having a dinner at his house for my mother and his wife, but I don’t want to drive 40 minutes each way to get there. 

I just want to be a mother today.  On my terms.  At my house.  I don’t even need my children to be here; they’re here every other day, and I don’t love them any differently today than I did yesterday or than I will tomorrow. 

Maybe we should celebrate humanity on a day-to-day basis, rather than waiting until coporate America tells us it’s time to buy something. 

Love each other.  Today.