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3 Lessons Learned from My Kids on Mother's Day

I had the unusual opportunity to spend the entire day with 2 of my three kids, completely uninterrupted by a volleyball tournament or a Little League game. My oldest son is away in college, but even he had a long distance message for me. Reflecting on my lovely day as I tucked the youngest in last night,  I thought I would share the lessons my kids taught me yesterday as they each celebrated their mom - me!

1. Someone has to take the lead.
Having a daughter in the middle of two sons is a God send.  Often when they are thinking about sports, girls or girls and sports (that isn't a typo), she in all of her fourteen and a half years of wisdom, is always thinking ahead. She plans, strategizes and documents all of her to do's. When she was 10 and wanted to remodel her room, she gave me a PowerPoint presentation - slide animation and all!  While I am sure the boys would have eventually come up with something special for me yesterday (Catch in the park? A smaller than usual load of college laundry?), my future GirlPreneur took the lead, designed the breakfast menu, delegated preparation assignments and had the camera ready upon delivery. So organized, so one-step-short-of-bossy but completely on track. Amazing! Not sure where she gets it from... :-)

2. Mistakes happen but it's all about the recovery.
Then there's my youngest son.  Twelve is just about the age when passive aggressiveness seems to rear its independent head.  Apparently he was assigned to ride his bike to the bakery to get my favorite morning buns, but decided that it was too early and he wasn't getting up when she commanded him to.  Of course she nobly replied to his insubordination with, "Fine, I'll get them myself but you aren't getting any!" After she left, he dragged himself into my room, shared the story and asked, "You don't think she's really not going to give me one do you?" I resisted telling him that you get what you give, it was Mother's Day after all. But I did say that she wasn't happy with him, so who knows if she meant it or not. Suddenly he got a bright-eyed look on his face and said, "I know, I'll go cut the strawberries so when she gets back, that part will be done and then I'll probably get a morning bun!" With that he bolted down to the kitchen to start earning his breakfast back. And sure enough, she so appreciated him stepping up to help, she let him have two!

3. Texting is efficient, but a phone call is priceless.
Those of you that have teens are probably mad text-ers like I am. They trained me early and they trained me well.  Too well. So well that sometimes I forget to call people for important things and just ping them a quick text instead. Not the best habit but I'm working on it.  Anyway, imagine my surprise when my 20 year-old son CALLED me to say Happy Mother's Day.  I thanked him profusely for calling and said that I was surprised that he didn't just text me. I obviously insulted him because there was a long pause before he said, "Wow Mom. Texting isn't good for everything. Sometimes you just need to call people for important stuff." Ouch. Got it son. Thanks for the reminder.

So after mothering for 20 years, I am still a mom-in-progress, and more often than I care to admit, my best teachers are my kids!

How was your Mother's Day? Share with us below... xo, jgw. 

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