The Mother's Day Tea

"Guess How Much I Love You?

The Mother's Day Tea is one of my favorite school events of the year.  Reserved for the pre-school through 1st grade classes, it's simple, sweet and sentimental.  Regardless of how many times a defiant look has crossed my child's face, when I walk through the classroom door, I am suddenly the queen.  Her face beams radiantly as she waits with anticipation to hug me and present me with gifts of hand-painted pots and pictures and poems.

The tea is a chance for me to see myself through my child's eyes and I am reminded that her world is not always the same as mine. Smiles and hugs can cure a bad day, words of affirmation can turn doubt into confidence, and just being there is more important than a clean house, a gourmet dinner, or finishing my "to do" list!

"Mom" by Ella

In case you can't read it, the answers to the above questions are:

1. My mom's hair is - "Like Mine"  Dirty Blonde
2. My mom's eyes are - Blue
3. My mom is - 14 - years old
4. My mom's favorite food is - Salad
5. When I'm at school, my mom - Goes to exercise class
6. My mom's favorite thing to do is - Be with me
7. It makes my mother happy when - She watches a flat screen TV with me
8. I love my mom because - She's nice!

At some point during the tea, the teachers read a story or a poem that expresses the significance of our roles as moms, a reminder that we are not stuck in a world of the mundane, but that every single little thing we do makes a difference.  Always unprepared, I blot my eyes with a flowered napkin.

My Collection of Mother's Day Pots

Happy Mother's Day!

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

Author Unknown (to me)

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, 

and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

 I saw you feed a stray cat, 

and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw you make my favorite cake for me, 

and I learned that the little things 

can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I heard you say a prayer, 

and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, 

and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, 

and I learned that we all have to help take care 

of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw you give of your time and money to 

help people who had nothing,

and I learned that those who have something 

should give to those who don't.

When I thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw you take care of our house and everything in it, 

and I learned we have to take care of what we are given,

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw how you handled your responsibilities, 

even when you didn't  feel good, 

and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw tears come from your eyes, 

and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a 

good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, 

I looked at you and wanted to say, 

"Thanks for all the things I saw when

you thought I wasn't looking."