I could list all the things that are amazing about being a Mom, like the pride when you see your kid doing something amazing. (This starts when they first walk and talk and continues as they learn to read, ride a bike, take the school bus, give a report, play soccer, etc. I am lucky in that I actually get to watch my girl sing on stage in front of a lot of people.)

I could talk about the hard parts, the drudgery, the expectations of what Mom's are "supposed to be" and how we're "supposed to act". I don't really want to go there today, though. Expectations are boring.


I could talk about the fun parts...running through sprinklers to "show them how it's done", water fights, pushing swings too high, going to the park, riding bikes through the woods, getting talked into puppies and kittens, etc.
Instead, I'd like to list some of my favorite Mother's Day presents. Some I get every year, some I've collected through the years.

My Top Ten Mother's Day presents:

1. Breakfast in bed or just breakfast.
   
• I get this every year.
• Coffee is always included. Now Ace knows how to make my coffee strong and dark like I like it. (Just goes to show that I've taught her some important life skills. )
• In the early years, as this has been going on since Ace was 3ish, breakfast included toast and cut up fruit. Very delicious toast and cut up fruit, that is. (I used to call this a "French breakfast", and later we took this idea and turned it into a "French dinner" which was a plate of any fruit or cheese we happened to have in the house sliced and nicely arranged on a plate with any bread/crackers we happened to have in the house.)
• Now, I get eggs scrambled with feta cheese and spinach, toasted English muffins and cut up fruit.
2. A Superman t-shirt with cape attached.
• It is still hanging in the closet should there ever be someone who needs to be rescued from a burning building or a runaway train. I no longer rescue stray pets or people.
• Note: This t-shirt reminds me to focus on the big picture, "superhero stuff", things like loving yourself, taking care of yourself, because until you do that, you can't "wear the cape", it's not possible.
  
3. Coffee cup - hand painted with a dragon fly and "Mom".
• This year I got a new coffee cup, not handmade but beautiful all the same with a fabulous quote written on it.
• In past years, I've received coffee cups with famous paintings on them and other amazing handmade ones. Sadly, some have broken, I've kept them all the same.
  
4. Fancy handmade jewelry
5. A red dress. I haven't worn it, it's not my size, or shape, but I still have it in the closet and I will probably always have it in my closet where ever I live.
6. Flowers.
   
• This year I have a colorful bouquet of roses and this other flower whose name I can't remember right now, but I love it and Ace knows I love it, so there ya go.
• In years past, I've gotten handpicked bouquets from a neighbor's yard. They have always mostly understood and this hasn't happened in a very long time.
  
7. Pencil holder made from a juice can wrapped in blue/green and white yarn. I use this every day and it's on my desk.
8. Chocolate cake - This is a staple, I get new chocolate cake every year, it never goes out of style.
9. Art of all kinds. I have a handmade teapot painted my favorite shade of blue, hand painted glass plates, one with a sunburst, one with a yin yang, one with polka dots, A ladybug wall hanging, one pottery bowl with a sculpture inside, and other items too numerous to list, here.
10. Cards that make me cry. This year, it says, something like, "More than I appreciate all you do, I admire who you are." When I opened it, she said, "I knew that would get you." and, of course it still does, every single time.