Saturday began the Mother�s Day weekend with a shopping trip for his Mom�s gift. The girls were in rare organized form and even chose outfits with which I had not one quibble. Hair, face and teeth prep without reminders�(a rare gift indeed) and off we went to the mall. We had no idea really what to look for�she has everything. We had gotten a little book of Mom-isms but that was not enough. When we got there we saw an outdoor store and decided to go in. She loves her garden and has a beautifully landscaped backyard complete with a collection of cute birdhouses (yes, another series of Mother�s gifts). Just as we were despairing that we would have to move on I found a statuette of two girls sitting and holding a large blossom which served as a small birdbath. I thought it might remind her of our girls as toddlers and showed it to the fam for approval.

With one gift down the girls decided it was time to look for something to add to their gift (they take after their dad). Off they went without even a hint from their Dad, sometimes it feels like a conspiracy of love around here. When that was done, we were off to the theater.

We are at an odd place where sometimes they want to see the new animated feature; sometimes it is a teen angst film and sometimes action heroes. Mostly they are uninterested in adult fair but will suck it up for the occasional romantic comedy for Mom. So this weekend, Spiderman. It was much better than I had thought and so I would categorize it as �enjoyable.� Not so good as I was not aware of my constant distraction with Kirsten Dunst�s bad red hair.

Home for a lovely dinner (thanks Les) and Trading Places and best of all�bed early.

Sunday was about his Mom. At one time I wanted to have Mother�s Day be my day but learned a long time ago that I still get it every day. So, we met them at the Club again and she loved her two gifts. We laughed and talked and went back to the house to visit. She has stopped wearing wigs (too hot) and so she was wearing a really cute Liz Claiborne hat we had given her for her Birthday. It was perfect and she knew it looked good so I was really glad for her and our daughters who chose that gift.

My gifts were a movie (An Ideal Husband :-), a bracelet, and from the girls a silk flower arrangement they had done themselves for my office :-)

Home in time to relax and ponder what being a Mom means so here are a few thoughts.

Being a Mom means:

Remembering that special warmth and glow at the core of you when you are first pregnant, before you show, before it is �real� in any other way.

Shopping for clothes and toys and everything that makes their life perfect on the outside while you struggle to figure out how to make it perfect on the inside.

First smiles, words, steps, boo-boos, and tears.

Learning from each parting (daycare, first grade, �Mom, just let me off here.�) in preparation for the big parting when they leave home.

School plays and projects, intellectual development and surprises. Public pride.

Girl Scouts and art projects: sacrifice of time for those looks of reward.

Realizing that eye attitude, ignoring parents and occasional raised voices are the exciting birth of a young woman.

Lingerie and bikini shopping.

Crushes and first hurts. Holding back from encouraging spitefulness without resulting to silly Mom-isms.

Explaining sex so that it is not scary but not too attractive either!

Watching two beautiful young women walk across a field and feeling your face break into a smile of recognition and deep satisfaction.

Dreams of the future: trips to college, graduation, meeting the �one,� weddings and hopefully Grands.