Dear If readers,

My husband John and sons Jax and Brody were precious to me on Mother’s Day. Now, I have to say, I think my husband has come to realize quite smartly that these “girlie” types of remembrances and rituals score big points with his “bride” and women folk in general. And so, he took the boys shopping as he does now for birthdays and Christmas and they “sneak” off to stores behind my back like great showman that giggle that they are pulling one over on Mommy (who of course knows and goes along).

They woke me up with cards and made me open each one to show their unique messages and personalities. And then came the gift cards and thoughtful gestures. And finally, time off for good behavior. John took the boys to a playground and a movie in which time I napped and took myself to the cinema. The day ended with my return to a tidy house, the boys in pajamas and their teeth brushed and my husband making my favorite salmon and saute’ spinach supper on the grill and stove. Wonderful, wonderful Mother’s Day, 2008.

But can I tell you what really made my mother’s day week? One day in that week, Jax’s friend Sophie who he admits he has a “crush” on had a ballet recital and we attended. I try to teach my boys how to treat someone they like with sweetness so we stopped at the grocer to buy pink carnations to bring to give her. We arrived and went into the auditorium.

I of course had us sit in the back row thinking, “Well, this will last 10 minutes tops, and then one of them probably my three year old will begin to play cowboys and indians in the aisles and we will have to leave.” Well, no. My boys sat mesmerized at the 40 minutes of Peter Rabbit played out on the stage with only a whispering as Sophie came on stage as a mouse and Jax said to Brody, “she looks beautiful doesn’t she?” To which Brody, said, “Yes, beautiful, beautiful.”

And that dear friends, watching my little boys act like young men, civilized and appreciative of someone’s magic, with flowers in their hands as gifts of love, was my greatest mother’s day gift of all. Love, Cat Wayland

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