Remembering Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was a special day in my family as I was growing up, with us children making cards and gifts for my mom.  As my daughter grew older, she did this for me.

The grandchildren have been on quiet tippy-toes the past day or so, making and buying cards and gifts for my daughter and their two grandmothers.  (We’ve been celebrating a graduation, too,  this weekend, so have all been together in our multi-generational home.)

However, memories of my mom in the nursing home with Alzheimer’s come to mind.  I call them bittersweet memories since they combine joy that we could be together and saddness as Mother no longer knew why we were there.

The nursing home prepared a lovely Mother’s Day Brunch for the residents and their families each year.  Jim and I always joined Mother mother that day. At first she thought we’d taken her to a fancy restaurant…the individual tables were decorated with tablecloths, vases of flowers, and set with pretty dinnerware.  Eventually Mother only knew someone familiar were there.

My fondest memories though include the times our grandchildren (Mother’s greats) accompanied us.  At first as toddlers, then 6 and 10-years old the last Mother’s Day,  they enjoyed this time with Grandma Dee Dee, as the family called her.  Photos of these occasions have their place in our memory scrapbook of Grandma. 

Even though your family member may not recognize your or can’t participate fully in Mother’s Day festivities, some glimmering of memory or recognition may prevail.  You’ll have the reward of knowing you made her day a special one.