Chatty, I never thought to do that. I still go to the cemetery and place fresh cut flowers in the vase. Often times I've written Mom a letter while sitting at the cemetery. It's a great place to do so because there are no interruptions.

Probably one of the only truly quiet and peaceful places left on the planet...!

Mother's day is always difficult for me as an adult adoptee. Growing up, every Mother's day I wondered, as most adoptees do, does she think about me? I finally made contact with my birth mother almost 7 yrs ago, not quite the reunion I had in mind. She told me in no uncertain terms never to contact her again, that if she'd known I'd ever contact her, she would have made sure I was never born. My adopted Mother was somewhat like Cinderella's evil stepmother, preferring her biological children to me. She passed last September, I keep the vases full at her grave, as I do for my late mother in law and say a prayer for the elevation of her spirit.
My own adult children gave me the gift of their time this Mother's day, renting a film for us to watch together and my daughter gave me a miniature rose plant. I treasure every minute I have with them, and hope I have transcended my own experiences to give them better mothering than I received, to let them know how much I love them and am grateful to have them in my life.

peace,
Susan

Thistle, beautiful! Aren't kids wonderful? Thanks for sharing this.
Mother Mystic- so sorry for the bad experiences you've had. But glad to know you have the heart of a real mother. God bless you and help you be all you can be!

And I hope each of you boomer sisters had a great mother's day!

Dotsie...I know just how you feel...now that my own sweet mother has passed Mother's day is bittersweet for me...I felt myself filling up at random times throughout the day even though I was surrounded by my own precious children...I wonder if I will ever adjust to the void her passing has caused in my life...

Thistle...your post was terrific...don't you just love little kids?

I still find Mother's Day very painful too - but a bittersweet painful. I'm so grateful for my Mom, but still miss her more and more every year.

This year I was visiting my brother. My 17-year-old niece's youth group was hosting a Mother's Day Brunch at her church, and really wanted me to go. But I just couldn't go, it was too painful to be surrounded by mothers and people who still had their mothers alive and there. (Besides my brother and SIL are going through a painful divorce and it would not have been right for me to intrude on her Mother's Day celebration with her daughter anyway).

I avoid the card shops during the weeks leading up to Mother's Day. I thought it would get easier, but May is still a particularly difficult month...though I do still celebrate my Mom, but just more quietly - my brother and I quietly toasted her with a shrimp (she loved shrimp) at our lunch on Sunday.

[ May 17, 2006, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: Eagle Heart ]

(((Eagle)))

I'm right there with you. Mom's gone as well..since I was 18. But,I do have a very good rememberance of what she loved...

Homemade cards from us

Gardenia corsages (Dad always got her one)

We usually bought her some cheap-o little scatter pins (I still have several of them) that she treasured and wore with pride.

Dad would get her something special like new china or something she needed. And when they kissed in the living room, we all cringed!! How funny!! Mom's and Dad's kiss???? OH NOOO!!! LOL!!

Yeah, MD celebrations are not my favorite to attend. Interesting thing happened today...

A woman noticed a pendant that I was wearing and said quickly..."Oh, is that a Mother's Day gift?"...then quickly caught herself and said, "Oh, you're not a Mother...I'm so sorry". I knew it was heartfelt. She DID consider my feelings,but it goes to show that people just automatically think every woman in the world has given birth.

Di, I am sorry you continue to be tormented by such things. Urg!

Eagle, you are so thoughtful of everyone's feelings. I adore you. ANd I love hearing about you and your brother. You are so blessed to have such a caring brother. I'm sure you recognize that.

Our Mother's Day was different for two reasons. This was Ross's first one without his mom so we talked about that a little, but not too much. He is at peace knowing his mom is in a better place and that she pretty much willed herself to die. He believes God listened and answered her prayer. Still hard without her.

It was also different because this is the first MD since having children that we went to church alone. Only Ross and I. Our oldest is out of town, my daughter had to work, and my youngest son had just gotten home from prom breakfast at 6:00am. I didn't have the heart to make going to church with Mom an issue.

We did celebrate by all of going to dinner when my oldest was home a week ago, then we also had Dad here for a cook-out when the kids were home. Everyone was very thoughtful. My daughter gave me a blank scrapbook with all the trimmings for us to do together and a sweet homemade card. I got three CD's, one each from the guys: Jack Johnson, Kenny Chesney, and John Mayer. Now I have all this new music to listen to which is different for me because I typically listen to Christian radio in the car.

Next, Father's Day.

Ladies, I now have a page dedicated to mothers in my web site. Scroll down to read it in English.
Here's the link if you're interested:
http://expressionpublishingministries.com/188301.html

Also, my blog has a special Mother's day article:
http://inkspirationsbyrhodi.blogspot.com

[ May 18, 2006, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Songbird ]