'birth'day
Having recently celebrated my birthday and with Mother's Day coming up, I've been thinking about my family a lot lately, Elaine and Grandma in particular. As I get older, I recognize that my birthday is less about my getting older and more about my 'birth'day (as Elaine put it). She reminds me of when I was born: what the weather was like, what flowers were blooming, etc. - all the details that I can't remember despite being there too.
It seems like birthdays should be Mother's Day - an occasion to celebrate motherhood on the date when the mothering began. Maybe this only makes sense once the child is all grown up and doesn't mind sharing their birthday with mom. Perhaps the Mother's Day established by Hallmark should be valid for the first 18 years, at which point Mother's Day is replaced by 'Birth'Day - I'd be down with that.
In any case, in the spirit of celebrating motherhood, I'd like to thank my mom for being ... my mom. Her strength, determination, support, and love have shaped who I am in a positive way. My childhood was less than conventional. Adolescent resentments have morphed into appreciation and respect. I'd also like to thank my grandmother for being an inspiration. Her ability to be open-minded, honest, gracious, and kind are things that I admire about her. I'd be hard-pressed to find a better role model.
