Growing up, Mother’s Day for me meant meeting up with both sides of my family at the Rosario Beach, eating oysters, adding whipped cream to my grandma’s tarts and playing with my cousins. If the weather was nice enough perhaps a canoe was available for rides and the beach ready for frolicking.
It took me a long time, well into adulthood, to realize that I come from a very unique family, one where in-laws intermingle with one another and my sets of grandparents are great friends. My two grandmothers sitting and chatting together is not uncommon. For the life of me, as a child I couldn’t understand how other families didn’t mingle in such a way.
As my parent’s house filled on Sunday with different combinations of family members showing up with arms full of food and flowers, I thought to myself how traditions come about. How over the years Mother’s Day must have been a convenient time for our tribe to gather and it made sense to do so in the middle of everyone, which happens to be my parent’s house and nearby parks.
Keeping with the tradition of seeing family on the Mother’s Day weekend, we zipped up to Barry’s parent’s house before we headed over to Anacortes and were also able to stop by to see his grandmother and grandparents. This meant that Maggie got to see all ten of her grandparents within a 24 hour period. I’m nearly certain that this has never happened before.
Maggie did not disappoint and connected with each of them, pointing, pinching and generally making them solidify their membership into her fan club. Stamps of approval all around.
So, Mother’s Day. Thinking back to last year, a fresh member to Club Mama, I hardly remember the day or at least I hardly remember feeling like I was useful or even myself. This year I felt full of life and energy. I have more of a firm grip on motherhood and how to be ME at the same time.
I didn’t slurp on any oysters or even walk on the beach this Mother’s Day weekend, but I did see some of my cousins, chat up all my grandparents (Barry’s too!) and enjoy the family filled festivities.
And, most importantly, I got to spend the day with my mother and daughter.