It’s almost Mother’s Day again, and again I’m not really sure what to do about it. The children found out, as they do about most holidays, and think they need to do some special something. Their father shrugs his shoulders and says “We love mommy everyday, not just one day.” Still, the children want to do “something.”

If the children were in school, they would at least get to make cards and tissue paper flowers and picture frames out of popsicle sticks.

Here, they get a disinterested response from dad and a mom who winces when her daughter says something about staying up late for “preparations.” Someone, it seems, should encourage them in their display of affections, but somehow it seems a little self-serving for me to plan the event and its execution. Can you picture it?

“You are making breakfast. You shall clean the kitchen. And you, you and you, uh, no fighting and try not to cry about anything. I’m going to take a bath and no one will interrupt because that is how I wish to be appreciated.”

I thought about taking the children to Michael’s for some of their little events, but this week has been hectic, what with having no car and then blowing a tire on the way to Lincoln and all. I’d tell you about the sinking feeling I had in my chest at being left in the car with five children as my husband threw the tire on his shoulder to walk the remaining ten miles into town, but that really belongs in a post of its own.

And really maybe he should be the one to get the cute little chalkboard mug, perfect for any teacher, homeschool moms (and dads) included. But it’s Mother’s Day. His day is next month. Or in September, if we want to go off the Australian calendar, but that is neither here nor there.

But then, I was sitting with Mouse in one of her gardens earlier this week. We were pulling two years’ worth of weeds and grasses from between the bulbs fighting for space and laying down layers of newspaper to tip the balance in favor of the flowers. It was sort of relaxing just sitting there and chatting about the different kinds of flowers and her long term plans for the garden, and I had a simple little idea.

For Mother’s Day, we could adopt this little garden. We could go to Campbell’s and each pick out a few bulbs or some seeds and have a little gardening party Sunday afternoon. It even sounds like something we could look forward to doing again next year. . .a sort of Mother’s Day tradition.

Of course, rain is expected.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Oh, and here’s a great little (free!) e-book for Mother’s Day craft ideas.