My Mother’s Day actually began a couple of months ago when I
fell in love with Darius Rucker’s version of “Wagon Wheel.” I told Alec above
anything else, I would love for my boys to sing “Wagon Wheel” to me on Mother’s
Day. After that night anytime we’d hear “Wagon Wheel” my boys would ask “Is
that ‘Wagon Wheel’?” Hmmm…someone has been teaching these boys this song…
On Sunday, we were woken around 6:30 by the sound of little
feet shuffling down the hallway. In comes our boys completely bright-eyed and
bushytailed. They jumped on the bed and were super snuggly and sweet. Next I
heard Mango the lab come into our room. I looked at Alec and asked “Is someone
in our house?” I thought he had come up with some elaborate plan to have
someone get the boys up and out of their rooms and let the dogs out so all my
kiddos would wake me up for Mother’s Day. But that wasn’t the case. Tucker said
he woke up because there was just a little bit of sun coming into his room.
(Note to self: Install a spotlight with a timer outside TJs window to wake him
up on time on school days) And apparently he knows how to open the gate in
front of Thatcher’s door and broke him out. The gate in the kitchen must not
have been latched all the way so lab Mango made a run for it once she saw the
boys walk by. My only good kid, wienerdog Berman, stayed in his bed where he
was supposed to be. He’s such a good boy! Regardless of how it all happened, it
was a perfect start to my day.
The boys gave me the cards they made at school and some
pretty little things they picked up at the jewelry store then it was off to
church. I love the peace and serenity of sitting next to Alec in church and the
pastoral prayer that morning was all about mommas. I was reminded for the
millionth time how very blessed I am.
After church, Alec’s parents and brothers came over for
lunch. I’m not sure what made me think of it, but I thought this was the
perfect occasion to use my Grandma’s dishes that I still had stashed away in
the garage since I got them in November. I carefully washed each plate and let
myself be transported back to a different time and place. My heart was full
thinking of my grandma and how I’m a momma now.
After my in-laws had left, Alec had gone to the grocery
store and the boys had laid down for naps, I gave myself a Mother’s Day gift of
lying down on the couch for a minute. Tucker, finally used to not taking naps, came downstairs a few
times to ask random silly questions – just trying to get me to let him stay
downstairs. Each time I would answer him and tell him to go back upstairs and
be quiet for a little bit. Finally, just when I was about to doze off, I heard
Tucker come down the stairs but instead of coming all the way to the bottom, he
stopped. Then, in the sweetest little voice in the world, I heard “Rock me
momma like a wagon wheel; rock me momma anyway you feel; heeeeyyyy, momma rock
me.” Hook. Line. Sinker. I got up, got my boy and we snuggled under my new
quilt and watched cartoons until Alec came home.
When it was finally time to go to bed, I read Thatcher his
new books that I had picked up at the library. After I read the last book, he
ran to give Alec and Tucker goodnight kisses then ran back and jumped in bed. I
pulled the covers up and tucked him in and gave him a kiss. He took his little
finger and started tracing around my face saying “Momma” over and over. Now
anyone who knows Thatcher knows he is a total and complete Daddy’s boy. I have
succumbed to this and I’m (somewhat) at peace with this. So in this moment,
when it was just my baby boy and me, I was captivated. I may have even been
hypnotized for a minute. I just remember having this goofy smile on my face and
my heart bursting with so much love for this little moment.
At the end of just about every day, I’m exhausted. My
schedule is beyond overwhelming. I have moments when I don’t know how I’m going
to get through everything, and I miss Alec and my boys more than they can
imagine. But I’m hopeful that the
sacrifices I make now will pay off in the long run. I cherish each and every
little moment I have with my family because they inspire me and I hope I
inspire them.
So very blessed.