{"id":99,"date":"2009-05-09T13:02:53","date_gmt":"2009-05-09T13:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/05\/happy-bad-mothers-day.html"},"modified":"2009-05-09T13:02:53","modified_gmt":"2009-05-09T13:02:53","slug":"happy-bad-mothers-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flirtingwithfaith\/2009\/05\/happy-bad-mothers-day.html","title":{"rendered":"Happy (Bad) Mother’s Day: A Message for the Rest of Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mother’s Day is upon us. I can’t tell you how many times I approached this Hallmark holiday with a sense of obligation. Both as a daughter and a mother, I frequently found myself feeling put upon as I attended a brunch I didn’t want to go to or wore a macaroni necklace I didn’t want to wear. Not a popular posture, but the truth is the truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Of course I played the game. I went and smiled, half wishing it was over before it began. I can’t say that I was built this way – although I preferred playing chess and chasing snakes over playing with dolls as a kid. I just seemed to be missing that gooey, gushy, lovey-dovey piece that “good mothers” and “loving daughters” seemed to have naturally.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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I cannot explain the connection between loss and growth, but I have seen evidence of it in my life and the lives of those I care about. Losing both of my parents in 2008 and walking through serious health issues with two of my three children in the past few years, I find myself nostalgic for both the brunches and the macaroni necklaces. What I wouldn’t give to wish my mom a Happy Mother’s Day. And how grateful am I to mark this mothers day with three healthy and happy children.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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So this is a shout out to all of the mothers, sons and daughters out there who have struggled with their moms or been challenged by their kids. The “bad” mothers and less-than-dutiful children who may appear to fall short of expectations but are willing to grow in love and keep moving forward.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Give your mom and your kids a kiss for me…<\/div>\n
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Mother’s Day is upon us. I can’t tell you how many times I approached this Hallmark holiday with a sense of obligation. 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