CELEBRATIONS

It’s been a crazy month in the Beaver Lodge with birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc. These are excellent excuses to celebrate with family and friends.

One of my sweet teacher friends celebrated her birthday at school by bringing treats to the students. I adopted that idea. Why expect them to remember? The same goes for your birthday; celebrate with family and friends—if you want to. Pick a place to celebrate. Why only one day? Have a string of celebrations.

When my children were growing up, I tried to encourage them to honor others by modeling. Today is Daddy’s birthday. What can we do to celebrate? Or, “Today is my birthday, and I want to celebrate it this way!”.

Call me crazy, but I love giving gifts. I like to put a lot of thought into the meaning of the gift. However, receiving gifts is difficult. I realize that needs and wants change as we grow older. Maybe experiences are more satisfying than tangible things.

It’s up to you—gifts of time, cards, phone calls, shoutouts on social media. Let’s go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a movie, FaceTime, or just a walk. It doesn’t have to be on that day. It’s the time that is so precious—just saying.

Well, Mother’s Day is tomorrow. Do you give your mother flowers on Mother’s Day? Or do you randomly acknowledge her with gifts throughout the year?

My mom is the best around. I could sing her accolades all day. I remember asking her in high school if I could go to the beach with a friend on Mother’s Day. She informed me that this day had become so commercialized that, of course, I should go. I now see the wisdom in her response. Why celebrate someone only one day?

Anna Jarvis conceived the idea of Mother’s Day in 1907-1908 as a time to honor the women who dedicated their lives to their children and the children in the community. After careful research, I discovered that in 1914, President Woodrow Willson designated Mother’s Day as a national holiday celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Like my mother, Anna Jarvis was dismayed that this day had become commercialized for others to profit.

I became a mother four months after I turned thirty. I was devastated that my husband didn’t acknowledge my being a mother. I didn’t even get a card. For the record, Erica was nine months old and didn’t shop independently. Joe explained, “Well, you’re not my mother.” That never happened again. Just saying.

I decided I would celebrate my Mother’s Day as a new tradition. I planned for my immediate family of four to do the same thing each year. First, we went to church, then Schlotzsky’s for lunch, and finally, we walked up Stone Mountain—the peak is where my husband proposed and one of our favorite hiking treks.

This tradition was a family affair each year, no questions asked. Then came the interferences—sports, work, college, etc. Joe and I went a couple of times by ourselves. The last time was during the dreaded COVID lockdown. My knees may complain, but I’ll repeat that hike one day.

With age, I realize that traditions and celebrations will vary as family and friend dynamics change. It’s up to you. Celebrate.

Just saying.

I would enjoy hearing how you celebrate birthdays, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion you want to share. Leave a comment below.

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