Yo Mama


Mother’s Day could be one of the most celebrated of holidays of the year. It is the perfect setting with the spring flowers in bloom, beautiful weather for taking plenty of pictures, and of course brunches, banquets, and bouquets for mom.

A bowl of food with some sauce on topIt is the one day when most everyone wants to tell mom how much they appreciate her. Nothing is too much: breakfast in bed, Sunday Brunch at the Holiday Inn, flowering baskets, and free spa days on the kids. They even wash the dishes, and break only two.

But, come Monday, all is forgotten and she is back to Yo Mama! She returns to super-mom, hero of the household, duct tape to the broken, soup-kitchen to the hungry, and problem solver to the kids, husband, and last but not least, dogs, cats, and occasionally neighbors. She is the multi-tasker, peacemaker, organizer, and of course lover of her husband. She keeps the kids from killing each other, her husband from his mid-life crises and the dog from terrorizing the neighbors. She makes sure everyone in the household is vaccinated, sanitized, spiritual, and polite. She lives by her organizer, and dies by her rules. And I say….Yo Mama!

It is also a fun holiday, with everyone sitting around and joking about all the funny sayings mom would throw at us growing up. I can still hear my mom say:

 

  • Leave every light on in the house, and you will pay the electric bill.
  • If you don’t change that shirt in 3 days, I’m hosing you off.
  • Wipe your nose on your sleeve one more time, and I am ripping off your nose!
  • Shut your mouth and eat your supper.
  • Clean your room up right now, but first we have to make the ravioli.
  • Do you want a spanking? Tell me right now! Tell me right now! Tell me right now! Don’t you even say a word.
  • Go ahead and jump off the bridge with Johnny, but don’t call me, call your father.
  • Let that hair grow, and I’ll bury you and the pony tail.
  • This house is not a gymnasium!
  • Am I talking to a brick wall?
  • Don’t you make me come in there. Don’t you even make me come in there!
  • I hope your kids grow up just like you.
  • Stop picking the meatballs out of the sauce, I have them numbered, and you will be in trouble. (from my Italian mother)
  • Kiss your Aunt Mary, even though she will pinch your cheeks.

 

Okay…stop laughing. I know you have your own special memories, so be sure to share them sitting around the table this Mother’s Day. God bless all the mothers, God knows they need it! And by all means, make the beautiful Southern Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette. Remember the Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Custard sauce.

Have fun, Rosalie