This time of year is usually when the weather begins to turn and we see more sunshine here in Michigan.
It’s also the time of year when we put the spotlight on all the mothers out there.
Mother’s Day is but one day on the calendar, yet if you do it right, you celebrate your mother, mother-in-law, or wife 365 days a year.
If you are blessed to have all three, that is a wonderful situation.
My wife does it all for our family. She really does. Works full-time, sometimes more, makes family the No. 1 priority, finds time to work out and use her Cricut machine to spruce up the house, and has never made a bad meal ever.
In our 20 years together, with almost 17 of those as parents, life has been a blast. Yeah, we have ups and downs, but we figure it out and focus on the positives and weed out all the bologna that life – or people – throw our way. That’s not always easy, but we find a way.
When Stephanie had her first Mother’s Day way back in 2006, we were still navigating parenthood. There is no manual for being parents, and we learned that quickly. Just breathe, use common sense, and all should be OK.
She is always the Mom of the Year in our house! I love you, babe!
Then, we have my mom and mother-in-law – two ladies I could also not live without.
My mom and dad became parents in 1978. My mom was not yet 21. It was a different time, she always says, but they just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last month.
My mom beams with pride when talking about her family, especially her grandkids. That’s what a true mother does, you know? They enjoy being a mom and grandma above all else.
As for my mother-in-law, she welcomed me into the family more than 20 years ago when I first met Stephanie.
She was a longtime parapro for Auburn Hills schools before she leaped into retirement nearly 10 years ago. Helping those kids read was a passion of hers second to only, yep, you guessed it, her family.
My in-laws have been married 65 years. Not a typo, six-five. In a row.
For these three mothers that I love dearly, Luke Bryan has it right when he says “most mommas oughta qualify for sainthood.” Happy Mother’s Day, all!
— Matt Mackinder