Busiest weekend EVER

Well. What a weekend we've had.

First there was the C of C graduation, which is always a beautiful event at the cistern. Of course, the moment we were waiting for was when Amanda crossed the stage to get her diploma. Everything else was filler.

Then there was the reception -- a fun party with family and friends. Great food. Great fun. Great champagne.

Then on Sunday -- Mother's Day -- there were tornadoes. For the first time in years we missed our annual Mother's Day hunt for blackberries at Charles Towne Landing. But it was all for the sake of safety. And so we stayed around the house and watched the warnings on TV. (One time we got word that a tornado was moving across the Stono, so we had to rush down to the basement. First time we'd ever been able to take advantage of it for that particular use.)

But Sunday morning there was also another drama unfolding, a bit scary: Addison, Jessica's two-month-old, was rushed to the hospital with problems breathing and some bizarre foaming at the mouth and a slight fever. They started running tests, most of which relieved us (spinal tap came back ok, so no meningitis), but they still weren't sure what it was. They were guessing possibly a seizure, infection or pneumonia. They transferred her to MUSC Children's Hospital midday, where they continued running tests. She'll be there about two days while cultures come back. What a first Mother's Day for Jessica! Made the concern over tornadoes seem like nothing.

But this was also a reminder -- appropriately on Mother's Day -- for all of us to seize all the time we can, every moment possible, with our children.

The other day I mentioned to Holly that I wondered what makes a better gift for Mother's Day -- something to assist you in your mothering role (organizers, etc.) or something to help you escape from it temporarily (spa treatment, etc.). It's an interesting thing to ponder. But then, almost as a postscript to that conversation, on the news this morning I heard a tidbit that raised my eyebrows and caused me to revisit some of those thoughts: The news item said 50% of new mothers wish they could leave their jobs and stay home with their children and that if their husbands made enough money they would gladly quit their jobs to stay home.

I know the working outside the home vs. being a stay-at-home mom is a hot topic, and I'm not going to debate the issue here. As far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of individual priorities -- doing what you think is best and not bowing to pressure to do something else. As for the 50% who wish they could stay home, I hope they can find the means to follow that dream soon (sometimes just cutting out the extras can make it happen) because there won't be a "do-over" later. (Presumably the 50% who do not wish to leave work are already following their dreams of continuing to work.)

In the end, after all that's happened this weekend, my "revisited" thoughts on what makes the best Mother's Day gift led me to this: Whether you're a new mother or a long-time mom like me, I can think of no better gift than time with your children. The whole day to play ... a phone call ... a walk in the park ... a shopping expedition ... even sitting in front of the TV together. Just time. It's what that 50% craves more of. It's what Jessica is terrified she'll lose with Addison. It's what has built beautiful memories for me over the years (the blackberry picking every year is really about spending a day with my girls).

I can go to a spa any old time.
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