It’s Thanksgiving week and I have been gifted the week off work (my teaching job). Ask me how much rest and relaxation I’ve gotten this blessed week off? Zero. The answer to that question is zero rest. Not only do we have a revolving door of sicknesses in this house lately-each taking the entirety of 3 weeks to get over-but there’s lots to prep for the week of Thanksgiving.
Moms are the ones who plan the big feast, prepare all of those delicious treats, spend all day standing at a stove intermittently holding sick babies, then realize it’s time for Christmas shopping and there’s so much to buy! There’s a Mom each evening of Thanksgiving week-like myself-scrolling Target ads at, what time is it again? Oh right, 1am. Successfully getting the sick baby to sleep by 7, but has spent the last couple of hours back and forth rocking and laying in crib said baby.
You see the holiday season is what it is, has the feel that is has, because moms go out of their way to make it happen. I’ve read the various blog posts about “The 80s mom” and “The holidays growing up in the 80s”, and sure, I absolutely loved the holidays when I was growing up. But I realize now that it wasn’t the 80s that made it what it was-however cool that decade was, and it was pretty rad, it was the behind the scenes work of every mom. Sure we may not be running to the stores this Black Friday, but we still look through circulars and spend time with the kids circling various items for their letters to Santa. We spend countless hours scouring the internet for the best deals, trying to make our kids Christmas wish list come true -within our budget.
Moms in the 80s were just as tired during the holidays as moms now. They had sick kids and late nights and Thanksgivings to prepare, sure there may have been more wine bottles involved, but I remember more the fun everyone always had. The togetherness. That feeling is because a mom made it happen. A Grandmom, a new mom, a seasoned mom, it didn’t matter. Because moms just know. Moms know what it takes to make that spark come alive. Moms know how to make the holidays special. Moms know how to make the magic and bring families together. Really and truly, thank God for Moms.
So enjoy that Thanksgiving turkey, indulge in an extra slice of pumpkin pie, watch the anticipated parade balloons come to life on the screen, put that Christmas tree up and laugh as you remember each ornaments’ story. And know that that feeling-that sense of home in “home for the holidays” is because a mom cares.
I’m thankful for my kids, my family, the life I so chaotically lead everyday, but I’m so very thankful for moms. For just having moms in this world. Moms make it better. Happy Thanksgiving!
