Mother’s Day? How about making it Mother’s Week?

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 5:09 PM Friday, May 8, 2009

I have been thinking about Mother’s Day this Sunday, mostly because my husband recently asked me what I would like to do that day.

But, when I take a good hard look about what I really want for Mother’s Day, what I realize is that I don’t want just a day — I want a week.

You should know that I usually don’t respond this way.

Like most moms, I am not used to making demands that name me as the sole beneficiary.

For each of my 10 previous Mother’s Days, I have answered the same query with an honest but meek, “I don’t know ... go out to dinner?” or, “As long as I get a nap, I’ll be happy.”

So I believe my current request must just be the result of too many previous opportunities lost to exhaustion and the constant haze of Pig Pen-like dirt and Jell-O dust that hovers in the air at my house.

Besides, as all moms know, when you are taking care of the needs of everyone in the house, it is just easier to let your needs get pushed to the back of the line.

So I’ve decided, in an effort to honestly answer my husband’s question and to truly get what I want, that what I’m asking for this Mother’s Day is what moms need most — time.

Time to get things done, time to hang out with the kids, time to feed the family, time to spend with the husband, time with friends, time to do neglected projects around the house, time alone, time to work, time to play.

Time.

So I gave it some thought. If I had a week to do what I want, what would I do?

I even included some work — at the office and at home — to make this idea remotely possible (even in my head).

But I decided I wouldn’t clean the house, though, or do laundry.

Because, well, I really don’t like those.

Here is what I came up with:

Sunday: Sleep, read a book and go out to dinner (yes, those three could take all day).

Monday: Work as long as is needed to get everything done (no rushing to child care, coordinating soccer practice dropoffs or grabbing something to cook for dinner at the store). Go out for a drink with friends.

Tuesday: Work, come home to a clean house and a homemade dinner of something other than fish sticks, watch “American Idol” with the kids.

Wednesday: Work a half day at the office, come home and go through all the closets, collect and donate all the clothes that don’t fit or are too old. Get a sitter and go on a date with my husband.

Thursday: Stay home from work with my husband. Go golfing. Organize the photos and finally hang more pictures on the walls. Cook a family favorite for dinner.

Friday: Stay home from work. Garden in the morning and take the kids to a movie after school. Order pizza and watch a Reds game together at night.

Saturday: Go out to brunch, cheer on the kids at one of their games, have friends over or go to a party.

Making that list might have been a gift in itself, because it forced me to think of things I really would want to do if I had time for myself — even if it is just once in a while.

Also, I was happy to see that I already get to do some of my favorite things.

I suggest that other moms make lists, too.

Because, even though it is unlikely that Mother’s Day will be changed to Mother’s Week, it is good to remember that we need to make time for things that are fun for us — and to remember what those things are.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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