This past week we have been working on the Mother’s day projects at school. As one of my sweet girls was finishing hers up, she says,” I was thinking that maybe you would like a surprise for mother’s day. Would you like that?”
I smile and say,” But I”m not a mother!”
Sweet girl #2 says,” But you are married.” (Here we go again…..)
I then explain a few terms,” When you are married, you are a wife. You’re not a mother until you have a child.”
Sweet girl #1, ” So you don’t get a surprise on Mother’s day?”
As tempted as I am to put in a plug for a free gift, I clarify one more time,” I am not a mother. I”m a teacher, but not a mother. I am giving a present to my mother for Mother’s day, but I don’t have a child to give me a present for Mother’s day.”
“Oh. So you don’t need a surprise for that day?” askes sweet girl #1 for clarification.
“No.”
“Well, you are kind of like our mother,” says sweet girl #2.
Ah, but not so much as your own mother, I think to myself. I am a trusted caregiver yes, but not actually a mother. Not this year, anyway….