Mother's Day / Latest column

I had a great Mother's Day, thanks to my lovely husband -- who gave me the whole weekend off! I wrote about it in this week's column, which I will flow below.

Here's something I didn't include in the column, though: I somehow thought it appropriate to wear brand-spanking new flip flops for my walk around Lake Calhoun. Yes I did. So I only made it about halfway around before I had to carry my shoes and walk in my bleeding, blister-encrusted bare feet. The only time I wore my shoes for the rest of the day (because, of course, I walked around the lake first!) was when I entered a store. And then I'd shuffle agonizingly along.

Live and learn.

Speaking of Lake Calhoun, I just found out that I get to take windsurfing lessons there for an article I'm doing for Rochester Magazine. How fun will that be? I'll let you know how it goes. I've never attempted it...

OK, here's tomorrow's column. xoxo, jen

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Mother’s Day arrived with little fanfare at my house.

There were no good-morning kisses. No breakfast in bed. No bouquets of hand-picked dandelions.

No, I woke up alone on Mother’s Day. But don’t feel sorry for me.

It was all according to plan. My Mother’s Day Gift was a weekend of peace. It was my husband’s idea to load up the kids in the minivan on Friday afternoon and take off for Grandma’s House. And I didn’t stop him.

My sister thinks this is some form of sacrilege. “I can’t believe you’re spending Mother’s Day alone,” she scolded. “Won’t it be hard to be away from your children?”

Umm, no.

Judge me if you want, but I have no regrets. I spend 363 glorious days a year with my kids — what I really want, more than anything, is a day or two alone.

At first I thought I’d spend the weekend catching up on work. But then I realized that was insanity.

Instead I decided to celebrate Anti-Mother’s Day — a day dedicated to doing the things I did before I became a mother.
Uptown Minneapolis was the target for my celebration. It was my favorite lazy-day destination before I began my life as the family matriarch. I hadn’t been there in years.

I rented a cute little Chevy — no need for minivans when you’re traveling alone — and launched my Anti-Mother’s Day. My first official act was to buy a strawberry smoothie at the Tin Fish on Lake Calhoun. No one asked for a sip. No one slobbered on the straw. No one accidentally dropped it in the sand. It was delicious.

I walked leisurely around the lake. I didn’t push a stroller. I didn’t warn anyone not to touch the dead fish. I didn’t beg someone to hold my hand. When I wanted to wade in the lake, I did. When I wanted to lie on a bench and listen to the water, I did. Heaven.

I ambled up Lake Street, popping in shops I fancied. At Ragstock I tried on a red, “The Best Girls are from Philly” T-shirt without a tiny body sliding under the dressing room door. I searched through a rack of cargo pants without hearing, “Mommy! Find me! I’m hiding!”

I sat in my favorite Uptown bookstore — Magers & Quinn — for more than two hours, relaxing in a creaky wooden chair, reading lengthy excerpts from Don Cheadle and John Prendergast’s book on the Darfur crisis, Dave Egger’s “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,” and David Sedaris’ “Naked.” No one said, “I’m bored.” No one said, “Can we go now?” No one asked to use the restroom.

I made my way to the Uptown Bar & Café, where I munched on a taco salad while reading the first few chapters of my new book. No one snatched my corn chips. No one slipped under the table to retrieve his fork. No one spilled his milk.

Roughly six hours after arriving in Uptown, I strolled back to my car — smiling and winking at other people’s children on the playground. But not in a way that would weird them out.

My boys called to say goodnight as I drove home. They gave me loud, popping phone kisses. My seven-year-old told a story about feeding the deer in Grandma’s backyard. My five-year-old told me he loved me “all the way to the sky and down to the earf.”

When we hung up, I realized that my husband is a genius. Not only did my Anti-Mother’s Day give me time to relax and rejuvenate, but it made me a better mom. A happier mom. A more thankful mom. And that pays off for the whole family.