written by Natalie Caine, M.A. |  

My daughter lives too far away for us to get together this year. Sweet mom died. Are you in this emptiness for Mother’s Day?

What is on your wish list to celebrate your devotion to your children? One mom bravely told me she doesn’t mean to sound ungrateful but this year she doesn’t have to entertain for her mom or mother in law. She wants a surprise. Her fear is nothing special will happen that day when the world is celebrating moms unless she gives hints or has a backup plan.

I think a backup plan wouldn’t hurt. Number one, she wants her children to call and say sweet things about how great she is as a mom and even tell her a story of something she did for them. I suggested she pop them an email with those ideas. Children don’t think adults, yet.

Her hubby really wants to do something and at the same time, he has no idea what to plan. She laughed at him and said, “GOOGLE IT.”

Another mom said her hubby got her a new iron last year. Honestly, an iron.

She put it in the front seat of his car the next morning because she wanted to have a fun day and not deal with it then.

Robes…how many do you really need?

So what are you thinking? Make a plan so the day doesn’t surprise you with loneliness and loss. Ask yourself more than once what you really want to do that day. You get to change your mind and do whatever pops in on that

Sunday. Loneliness and loss might emerge and you have something to choose

if you feel it, later.

One mom s to look at her scrapbooks and movies of her children while her hubby brings coffee and pancakes in bed.

The day might surprise you with unexpected tears of memories and losses.

Let the tears remind you of love. You just can’t plan tear time. If you are alone, how about a movie? I know restaurants might be depressing with all the sweeties dressed up and gifts for mom at the tables. I say, don’t go there. Bring...