My mom has this tradition of giving Mothers' Day gifts to my sisters-in-law and ME, even though I am not a mom. Every year we joke around that I AM a mom - a cat mom! (I think my mom just doesn't want me to feel left out, which I think is really sweet).
This year, a really great card accompanied the gift my gift and I love the card so much, I wanted to share it with you. I have never, ever seen a card like this. It's basically a Mothers' Day card for non-mothers, and I think it is just so awesome.
When I told my mom how much I loved this card she kept going on about how it's TRUE and that she thinks I am like a mom to everyone - very loving and nurturing.
I have to say, I was just so touched by this, especially since the "child" issue was a sore spot between my mom and me back some years ago. In fact, back then we had a serious, long-lasting fallout over it because I felt she was invalidating the life path I had taken and trying to convince me that I was wrong to not have kids. I finally had enough of it - hence, the fallout. But that was years ago. Now that I am 46, I think she has finally accepted that we are not having kids. More than that, I think she can really see that I am happy in my life and that's what's most important in the big picture. She doesn't need more grandkids (she has 4 already), although I am sure she'd be happy to have as many as she can get. Also, I have noticed that in recent years when I talk to her about being glad I don't have the stresses and problems of people who have kids, I can tell she doesn't disagree with me or give me disapproving looks like she used to. I think she can finally see how much easier my life is because of the choice we have made, and how my life is filled with all the things and people I love. There's no lack in my life and she can see how grateful I am for the great life I have.
