Mother’s Day Memories: I Miss the Mother-in-Law I Never Knew

 

 

Mother’s Day for me this year ended with love and poignancy. I awoke yesterday with hopes of a great morning. This day ordained for me with expectations of love and kisses, but the day started off rockily. My sweet daughter did not want to wear the shirt I laid out for her. She said didn’t have matching shoes. Then, she took an hour to get ready to leave.

I just knew we incurred an hour wait at my favorite restaurant. Motherhood and patience did not seem to be my words for my Mother’s Day.

Meanwhile, my husband’s grown daughter called and wanted to wish me happy Mother’s Day. Sweetly, she asked how my morning proceeded.

Without graceful tact, I stated, “It just is. I hope things get better.”

My youngest daughter wore the second shirt that I selected for her. She looked so beautiful and sweet. But no kisses because her teenager soul didn’t allow them.

We pulled into the restaurant, and I knew my Mother’s Day treat seemed hours away. We would have to wait with the crowds. My stomach growled.

My KR said from the back, “They are waiting because they are probably just large parties.”

I looked at her with a scowl, but kept my impatience to myself.

As I approached the stand where the hostess stood and handed a coaster pager to the customer ahead of me: a party of eight, I heard her say, “It is going to be at least an hour if not 90 minutes. Is that okay?” The lady took her pager outside.

With fear and a growling stomach, I approached the hostess and told her I had three in my party.

“We will be able to seat you in a few minutes. We just have to clear a booth,” she told me to my surprise.

I happily took my pager and called my husband with my news; while, I heard her tell a party of 12 they would have to wait 90 minutes.

“I guess because we are a small party they can seat us right away,” I told my husband. I heard my daughter in the background saying, “I told her so.”

The hostess seated me at the booth in less than two minutes. As I waited for my daughter and husband to come in, my waitress came over right away and got our drink orders.

My daughter came in with a smile on her face.

“You were right, sweetie. Sorry.” I told her and squeezed her affectionately.

The day improved after a wonderful cookie ice cream dessert. I caught a great sale at K-mart, and saved over $30 on my summer clothes that my husband bought me: two outfits and new sandals. I bought my mother the beautiful flowering plant above which she loved. My husband bought fresh flowers for his mother’s grave.

Then my grands came over to the house, and I got to hold my baby grandson for a while, listening to him coo and gurgle, smiling at me. “Hello, little Carter.” I said and kissed him on the cheek.

Then he made a funny face of concentration. I knew what was coming. “Mommy, your little one needs changing,” I called to my daughter.

“Oh, the joys of motherhood,” I said to her as she took him out of my hands. “This is one thing I don’t miss.” She laughed and took him with diapers in hand.

Carter’s older six-year-old sister, five-year-old brother, and three-year-old cousin came running into the living noisy and buoyant ready to play. My living room floor filled up with toys and laughter.  My five-year-old grandson climbed into my lap. “Love you Meme.”

Later my mom loved her flowers. “Thank you.” She told her husband she needed him to build her a trellis because the flowers climb.

 I Miss the Mother-in-Law I Never Knew

Especially on Mother’s Day

As the day ended,  my family drove in silence. We pulled into the graveyard and drove down the street to my husband’s mother’s grave. Quietness greeted me, and the wind blew lightly in the cool evening.

I honored my husband’s late mother who’s gone to heaven but whom I never met. We placed the fresh flowers in the vase. He looked down silently at the plaques that marked both his father’s and mother’s graves. He smiled at my daughter as we got back in the car. I wish I knew his thoughts and could share in his memories. I felt how he misses her.  I miss his mother too. My daughter never knew her and has only seen photos of her.

Despite the longing and melancholy we all felt, the trip became a simple ending to a long day filled with poignancy and remembrance of love.

 

 

How was your Mother’s Day? I hope you enjoyed your time with family.

 

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Contributing to Five Minute Friday at Kate Motaung’s blog where the prompt word is Miss.

Also joining other blog hops listed on my Link Up Parties’ Page.