We live 125 miles away from my parents, and I miss being able to visit them any time I want.
On Mother’s Day, especially, it hits hard.
Many of my friends on Facebook are missing their moms today. For some, it is the first Mother’s Day without their moms. Others’ moms passed away years ago. Still others suffer through conflicted relationships that make this day difficult.
TheDad and Middle Sister just left to visit his mom. She lives in assisted living now, and has dementia, and I don’t begrudge his trip to see her on Mother’s Day, because there’s going to be a Mother’s Day very soon when she doesn’t recognize her own son.
I thought maybe we’d get to drive up yesterday to see my parents, but that didn’t work out. I am grateful for one thing, though: we were home to do a small kindness for a 13-year-old neighbor who spent yesterday at her grandparents’ home while her family kept vigil with her dying grandmother. She called our house asking if we’d pick up some flowers so she’d have a Mother’s Day gift for her mom this morning. Later, when she came home and got the flowers from our porch, we listened to this eighth-grader as she recounted the events of a very difficult day. There’s not much we can do to help, but we can do these little things, and I know that my mom would be glad that we were able to do that.
While distance keeps us apart more often than I’d like, I am very blessed. My mom is in good health. We have a great relationship. I can call her on the phone (or send an email) and talk about Middle Sister’s latest track meet, the dinner Big Brother cooked last night, and everything Little Brother has been up to lately.
This morning Little Brother gave me this rather crumpled but extremely sweet acrostic poem he wrote at school. I could say all the same things about my mom.
I won’t get to see her today, but we’ll talk on the phone. I can get in touch with her at any time for a recipe, encouragement, or just to chat. She’ll tell me to “get on my computer” and request a book from the library, because she just read it and knows I’d like it.
I know it bothers her tremendously that we cannot see her often, but she is very gracious about it.
On Mother’s Day, I am grateful for my mom, and for the fact that it is only the distance of 125 miles that separates us. In the scheme of things, I am so very blessed.
I love you, Mom!