Mothers Day

6:50am…Little foot steps, whispering, clanking of glassware on a tray and smiling little faces peeking through my door.

6:52am…door creaks open and the ruffle of tissue paper as Audrey and Noah reveal their hand made creations from behind their back before they even make it to the side of my bed.

“Good morning Mummy…Happy Mudders Day!”
“Happy Mothers Day Mummy, you are THE best mom ever!”

I am greeted with a bowl of corn bran in banana yogurt, cinnamon toast with the crusts cut off, fresh cut strawberries and a latte….Noah’s favourite breakfast, minus the caffeine.

As I ooooh, and aaaaah over the preparation of a perfect breakfast in bed (and try to rub my tired eyes awake) I can’t help but feel immediately melted by the pride I see in Noah’s face. Audrey sits beside me touching my arm softly just to be close and waits patiently for me to uncover all the treasures wrapped in tissue one by one. Noah’s excitement is making him jiggle on top of the covers. He points to all the items on the tray (stwabeerries, and cornnn, bwan) and tells me what they are. I jokingly tease him about making such an awesome coffee for his tired mother. And when did he learn how to operate Mum’s barista machine? He laughs and rolls his eyes. Audrey quickly sets me straight…Lindsay made it Mom, don’t be silly!

I unwrap each present with a detailed explanation of exactly how they were constructed at school. A handmade steppingstone for the garden, a glitter covered picture frame and some print screens made at a workshop. Lindsay sits with us on top of the covers while I read the poems and carefully printed cards from each of them. The two of us comment on how beautiful and how hard they must have worked on each little detail. Her presence feels fitting and natural. I try not to think about her getting on her plane in a few hours from now to return to Vancouver.

I nibble on my breakfast and listen to them talk. Audrey turns to me and says “What should we do for Fathers Day? Let’s have lemon meringue pie in bed for that. That was Daddy’s favourite!” She seems excited at the prospect of pie in bed. Noah then suggests that HE should get breakfast in bed, and then laughs at the notion of us bringing him breakfast on a tray, like a king.

I can’t help but marvel at their ability to think the way they do. For a moment, I feel like I’m watching the scene of a play, only its taking place right before my eyes…on my own lap. Noah leaps onto me and smothers me with hugs, and centers me back into reality, Audrey joins in.

I sip my latte and realize how especially cozy my bed feels while we listen to the wind howl outside. I am thankful for their smiles and hugs on this cold Mother’s Day Morning.