Because I Said So

This is one of those cute little “Gift Books” you find at Hallmark stores. REAL Hallmark Stores. Or you can sometimes find these in the Hallmark/card aisles of Walmart, Walgreens or CVS. Those aisles are convenient, yes, but simply not the same. Seems like the stores are slowly becoming extinct, doesn’t it? Makes me tres sad. I’ve always known I could cheer myself up if I could find a Hallmark store and read their hysterically funny, touchingly sweet cards for about an hour. It’s great therapy for me.

TLC gave me this little book a few years back. (And, yes, I am one of the few people on Earth who actually reads every clever little book I receive.) My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I tried to role model thoughtfulness while raising TLC. He made sure she remembered Mother’s Day and I, of course, always encouraged her to do something special for him for Father’s Day. As with most of you Moms and Dads, we’ve received the homemade gifts, the schoolmade gifts, the “Wonder-What-The-Heck-This-Is?” gifts. MSH and I have read some flowery, yet sometimes gut-wrenchingly tear-jerkin’, cards, notes and letters from TLC. We’ve saved them all. They’re treasures to us. (Especially the ones we got after she’d misbehaved—those are extra funny—I mean, darling.)

Growing up, as the oldest of four kids, I positively despised hearing the words: Because I Said So. Like all kids, of almost every age, I was determined I was never going to say them to “my kids.” Ever. I was ALWAYS going to make sure they understood why I was saying “NO!” They would get a real reason why they couldn’t do something/go somewhere/buy something/eat something/etc. Not that copout line.

I think TLC would admit MSH and I did our utmost, while raising her, from the time she was a toddler until she graduated from high school (oh, who I am kidding, I'm still tryin' to raise her), to explain our decisions to say “NO.” Still, despite my best and most patient efforts, this came out of my mouth several/too many times: “Because I said so. Period. Now stop asking me. If you ask me again, you’re grounded forever/in more trouble/never leaving this house for the rest of your life.” The truth? I still want to say it to her. For old times' sake. 

This Mother’s Day is especially poignant for me and TLC. Here come the tears. Sheesh. In two months, Little Leighton will arrive and she’ll be as cherished and adored as TLC has always been. She’ll get mad at TLC. She may even get mad at Grammy. But I pray she never doubts how much we love her. We’ll teach her the meaning of Mother’s Day. That it’s not about gifts you buy. It’s about telling the women you love and admire they ROCK.

To end on a smiling/giggly/happy note, here are a few of the “funnies” disguised as advice in this charming little Hallmark book:

Everything’s better with a little dash of guilt.

If you think I dry DISHES fast, you should see the magic I can work with tears.

For the perfect getaway, pack plenty of snacks, some magazines and extra underwear. Husband and kids optional.

Moms. . .they always know more than you think they do.

If you have a problem meringue can’t solve, you’re not using enough of it.

Mom always cheers, even when she has no idea what’s going on.

The old-timey 50s and 60s pictures are perfectly precious. Hallmark writers? AMAZINGLY creative peeps.

Have a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY weekend!