The Perks of Being A Mom
by Jenners • 05/13/2012 • BB/The Little One, Love and Loss, Mr. Jenners, Romeo and Juliet • 83 Comments
Motherhood is one of the hardest things I’ve ever taken on. (Please don’t get me wrong … I love BB with my entire heart but damn, mothering is exhausting and hard and confusing at times. I always feel that I have to qualify any negative thing I say about mothering with this kind of disclaimer. I mean I love my kid, I’m glad I’m his mom, I wouldn’t want to live without him but there are days when I’m convinced I’m not cut out for this motherhood stuff.) ANYWAY, my point is really to say that one of the perks of being a mom is that you get to be honored and spoiled on Mother’s Day. (And believe me, I take FULL ADVANTAGE of this extra holiday that I’ve only gotten to benefit from in the past 7 years.) Well, this year was particularly enjoyable as I was spoiled beyond belief and just wanted to publicly express my appreciation about the lovely gifts showered upon me and to say THANK YOU to my husband, Mr. Jenners (the organizing force behind this whole thing), and my children (BB and Romeo—my fur child).
So how did my day begin. With breakfast in bed of course!
Breakfast made as a school project. To be honest, the only part I ate were the two Hershey Kisses (see wrappers at the top).
The absolute best part of this gift (because, trust me, it wasn’t the food) was the drawing of me that BB put on the bag. Check it out!
A portrait of me by BB. Mr. Jenners says I look like Peter Griffin from Family Guy.
After this, I was given a card and some chocolates from my fur-child, Romeo—the Havanese. Check out the card!
The card was in Spanish because Romeo is (in the far distant past) from Cuba. (By the way, only one truffle is left. I
I was then treated to a scavenger hunt (which was handled quite creatively even though I misinterpreted almost every single clue given to me and needed Mr. Jenners to “cough” the answers in a sneaky way).
Some of the clues to my scavenger hunt.
Look at what goodies I found along the way (cleaning out almost half my Amazon wish list).
I’m about halfway through The Lifeboat already and just loving it!!! “But Jenners,” you say, “how could you be halfway through a book you just got this morning?” Why, I was given glorious free time to read and nap! (Perhaps the best gift of all!!!!!!)
We also went to the movies this morning, and (for once) I got to see my own movie choice instead of the kid’s movie. While Mr. Jenners took BB to see Pirates: Band of Misfits, I got to enjoy Dark Shadows. (Totally fun!! Another great collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Also, yesterday BB and I saw The Avengers, which was total popcorn movie fun. The scene where the Hulk hits Thor near the end had the entire theatre breaking into laughter. It was marvelous!) We also ate lunch out at Don Pablo’s where I got to indulge in my latest obsession—sopapillas.
Airy crisp warm dough triangles sprinkled with powdered sugar and drenched in honey butter sauce. Click on image for directions to make your own
In all, it was the most delightful day. A perfect day in many ways. And the best part? Waiting for me in the freezer is my beloved Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream to end my day! To wrap up, I just want to have my Havana hottie (that would be Romeo) wish all of you a wondrous Mother’s Day. I hope your day was as lovely as mine.
Muchas Bendiciones En el Dia de las Madres, Mamacitas! Grrrrrooooowwwl!
You were spoiled! How awesome! love the scavenger hunt idea. And your fur child did a good job celebrating his mama too. Chocolate ice cream in the freezer…what a way to end a beautiful day.
I was very very spoiled. I need to spoil my husband back for Father’s Day.
Eeek, sorry I’m so late with comments. I’m not sure I’ll ever catch up. I’m so glad you had such a great mother’s day- I know you deserve it. As for the whole wondering of you’re cut out for the mothering business – everyone wonders that most of the time. Shoot I wonder on a regular basis if I’m cut out to be a dog mommy when Sam is driving me competely around the bend. Lol.
I question my dog mommyness too … like I get bored after playing with Romeo for more than 5 minutes!
Love the portrait! How sweet!
It was so funny to see how he viewed me!
What a totally awesome birthday!!! I got a gorgeous necklace that I won’t be able to wear regularly until Gage isn’t constantly hanging out up there. Don’t tell Jason, but I think I might have preferred your celebration
It’s always nice when an obviously great mom doesn’t mind sharing the less than positive thoughts on montherhood.
Believe me, I am far far from an obviously great mom. There are days when my one mothering goal is “don’t yell so much.” : )
Happy belated Mother’s Day! It sounds like yours was fabulous. I love the idea of a scavenger hunt, no matter how difficult the clues may have been. It shows how much they love you to have planned that.
I agree that being a mother is the most exhausting, difficult thing a woman can undertake. I am glad that I am not the only one who wonders if I am cut out for the job at hand and question my sanity at having kids. I wouldn’t trade them for the world though.
Motherhood tests you in ways that nothing else quite does … yet it rewards you in ways that nothing else does too. It is crazy like that. And we love playing games to get presents. It makes it more fun.
What a great Mother’s Day.
It totally beats mine – of course, I tend to forget about these holidays. And my anniversary. But never my birthday. That shit better be celebrated BIG TIME.
I love how you make a party out of this!
Yay for great Mother’s Days! We were out of town this weekend so we’ll see what mine is like this coming weekend. Those Lindor truffles are soooo delicious. I would have eaten the whole box (good for you for saving one).
I understand what you mean about motherhood being tough. Sometimes I feel like I’m not cut out for it either. But like you, I love my kids, and we manage even though I’m clueless most of the time. I wish more moms were honest about the fact that it’s not always sunshine and roses. It would make us all feel a little better that we’re not the only one’s who find it difficult.
That truly sounds like the best Mother’s Day ever. Seriously. So, was the chocolate the best part of the thought behind it all. And I am sure, all of it is much deserved, too.
The card in Spanish was quite touching – did Romeo understand the words he signed his paw to? (Very clever that puppy.)
awwwww
Sounds like you were very spoiled on Mother’s Day! Even by Romeo, very nice!
motherhood is hard! But it looks like that hard work paid off this mothers day.
And now I will hold them to this standard for the future! HAHA!
Sounds like a wonderful day!
It really was. The best part was quiet time to read and nap — during the day!
Fabulous post! It sounds as if you had a very happy Mother’s Day!!
I truly did. It was marvelous!
Sounds (and looks) like you had a wonderful day!
Being an auntie, I’m begining to think there should be a day dedicated to aunties… especially once that play so much they almost pass out!
BB has some aunties like that! I agree — there should be an Aunt’s Day!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know!! I felt like a queen!
I never knew that Romeo was “the Most Interesting Man in the Universe!!” Lucky you. He certainly has good taste in chocolate as well (Spoken with a thick Spanish accent!)
What a FUN day. I am a tad bit jealous. (Don’t tell a soul.) May you have another 364 super-de-duper days just like it til next Mother’s Day.
He even growls with an accent! : )
Wow! You really raked it in. Sounds like a wonderful day. You deserved every minute.
I did, didn’t I? It was like Christmas. (In fact, I got more than I ever get for Christmas. )
Motherhood IS HARD! No doubt about that and no qualifiers either.
However, it’s so much fun too, I wouldn’t trade it for anything ever.
So glad they treated you right today, Yay.
It amazes me how hard but fun it actually is. I’m glad I didn’t skip this phase of life!
being a mother truly is a demanding
but equally rewarding job. i’m so
glad your mother’s day was special.
It is hard but when the rewards come (like a success or overcoming an obstacle) all the difficulties just melt away.
What a wonderful Mother’s Day – your three were so considerate and nice!! Loved your blog today.
They really came through … I must say. Even Romeo let me sleep in!
What a fantastic mother’s day! As you may have read, I did errands, but did spend the whole day with my daughter so, of course, that was very nice. She gave me ceramics that she made at school and a gift card to the movies. Maybe I’ll go see Marigold Hotel…
That Marigold Hotel movie looks funny. I saw a preview and it was giggling throughout. I hope you got to see it!
I ADORE this! How amazing is this!
It was a pretty darn amazing day. I was overwhelmed. : )
You and I must be Mother’s Day twins! I got breakfast and lunch in bed, and got to read all day long! I didn’t get any books, but my husband also took me to see Dark Shadows, while the kids prepared dinner. I loved being spoiled and it was so nice to have all the hugs and kisses. My day ended with ice-cream too! Mr. Jenners must have the same handbook that Mr. Zibilee has! I am glad that you had such a wonderful Mother’s Day, and I have to agree with you that it is hard being a mom sometimes. Even when they are good kids, and don’t give you much trouble.
So funny! I wonder if there was some “how to give a bookish mom a great Mother’s Day” article out there or something!? Seems like they followed the same playbook. Wasn’t Dark Shadows a hoot? I was just giggling throughout.
Hi Jenners,
Sounds as though you had a perfect day and speaking as someone who doesn’t have any children, I don’t think that there are any right and wrong answers to parenting. We have looked after my two nieces on many occasions, whilst their mother has endured several lengthy spells in hospital and they are both now well adjusted, beautiful and mature young ladies. I rather think that is in spite of our amateur parental minstrations, rather than because of them!!
You got a great haul of books as well and from such a mix of genres. I rather have my eye on ‘Let Me In’, which I have added to my ever-lengthening reading list!!
Thanks for sharing your day and enjoy the rest of the week,
Yvonne
I agree — there is no right way to parent. You just do the best you can and hope for the best. So much depends on other stuff besides how I’m messing him up! HAHA! I’m excited about Let Me In … though I may save it for the RIP challenge (gothic/horror/scary reads) in October. I heard it was a good movie too.
So glad you had a great Mom’s Day… and so glad you’re still here
.
Oh wow!! Hi!!! Long time no talk! I’m so happy to hear from you. What an unexpected little gift. I’ll be popping on over to visit you and see what’s been going on! I’m surprised you found me!
Love those clues and that you had a scavenger hunt to find your present- that is so cute!! And oh time to read a book would be wonderful! Love love those truffles- that reminds me I have a bag of those, I had better go eat one now.
How can you even forget you have a bag of those truffles!!??? They don’t linger when they are in my possession and they are never far from my mind. I love scavenger hunts. They make it so fun to find presents rather than just getting them.
I told you the movie was funny!!
I finished The Lifeboat this weekend and Lamb was excellent but with high creep factors running through it.
The Avengers was a kick!! My son is now in love with the Hulk!! And we shall have to discuss The Lifeboat. I finished it yesterday. And I believe Lamb was on my wish list due to you so you’re going to take full responsibility for my reading experience. HAHA!
This is certainly a feel-good post! It sounds like you had a great day from start to finish. I had a good day, too….eating waaaaay too much all day long. ugh.
Mmmm…it’s been years since I’ve had a sopapilla.
It has been years since I had a sopailla too. I’d forgotten how dang good they are!!! I think I see many visits to Don Pablo’s in our future!
Sounds like a perfect Mother’s day! Good for you! I had a nice one early, at the beach with the kids (and a book)!
Oh …. the beach and a book sounds fantastic!! Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Oh, I ‘m so envious. What a lovely lovely day you’ve had!
It really was a lovely day. Farm more than I actually deserve when I think about it but I’m not complaining.
Sounds like the perfect day.
Loving that picture of Romeo, he scrubs up rather well.
Isn’t that photo of Romeo a kick? My husband made it and it gave me the giggles so I had to share it.
That portrait is amazing – is it rude to say that I’d recognise you from it?! Glad you had a great day
Oh dear. Perhaps I do look more like that drawing than I feared! : )
What a great day and what a gracious mom you are! I hope you’ll frame that portrait of you. It really is a joy!
It is a hoot … of course, he could use it for his dad for Father’s Day too! HA!
Happy Mothers Day, Jenners! That picture looks exactly like you — not Peter Griffin-ish at all.
I also got some amazing art from Z and some chocolates but that was the extent of my day because of the whole kid birthday thing. Oh well! I’m glad you had a wonderful day. You deserve it!
Hmmmmm…not sure what I’m going to do with that little comment of yours. He came home with another one that he hadn’t finished and his renderings of me were even worse. You’d think he was drawing his dad not him mom!!! ACK!
There’s so much to love in this post! I don’t think I would have eaten that breakfast either, but the thought was sweet.
My husband took the boys to the movies this afternoon too, but I stayed home and enjoyed some quiet reading time. It was lovely. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Yeah … the breakfast was one of those “it is the thought that counts.” Not exactly what I was craving! HAHA! I think most moms just appreciate some kid-free quiet time on Mother’s Day. Glad you got some!
It sounds like a great day! Happy Mother’s Day!
It really really was. I wish it hadn’t ended.
Sounds like the perfect Mother’s Day. Those are my favorite variety of Lindors BTW:)
Yay … another dark chocolate fan. Aren’t those Lindor balls so good? I cannot stop eating them. They melt in my mouth and are just sooooo good.
Well, bandit speaks Italian, so of course Romeo is Cuban!
But of course!
you are a trip Ms. Jenners! I had to show your whole post to my bf cause he’s looking at me funny from laughing so hard at your Mother’s Day breakfast and scavenger hunt AND especially feeling like you have to qualify saying anything bad about being a mom~my sister-in-law and I talked about that very thing at lunch today (she’s a brand new mom and I’ve got 19, 18, and 16 under my belt)….doesn’t matter at what age or stage, I think being a mom is damned hard and having a day devoted strictly to us mom’s is something to take full advantage of !
I do hope you were well-cherished today…sounds like you were
i wish you a very happy Mother’s Day
Your sister-in-law is lucky to have an experienced mom like you to help and guide her. I think that helps so much when you’re a new mom. It is so overwhelming!!!! I hope you had the most wonderful Mother’s Day.
I’m so glad your day was perfect. It sure sounds like it was. My boys worked today, so my day wasn’t quite as much fun as yours. But I too am stuffing my face with pizza.
Pizza is the food of the gods I think!!!
Wow, you had a wonderful day, it sounds like! I need to borrow your husband for a while. You know, maybe like 20 years or so. Then you can probably have him back…. perhaps….
Tell you what, you can have him for all non-holiday events. How does that sound? He does some through on holidays.
Well, my husband isn’t home so I can’t say my day was anything close to relaxing. But I did spend some quality time with my babies today. Then this evening I ordered in pizza…lots of it. Yes, I have been dieting but this evening I stuffed my face. Without shame. I just watched some LOTR with them, and now they are scattering up to their bedrooms and I shall take a hot bath and read. And eat an ice cream sandwich. Knowing full well that my Angel of Death will work it all off in the morning.
Pizza and LOTR and a hot bath and reading times sounds like a lovely day to me! Hope the Angel of Death isn’t TOO mean today.
Your family knows the right way to do Mother’s Day!! I’ve been wondering about Dark Shadows – I remember watching the original show.
They really went all out. It was like my birthday or something. I never saw the Dark Shadows TV show so I have no idea how faithful this was. All I know is that gave me a few laughs and that is all I expected.
Sounds like you had a great day! What destinations did the clues provide? I love a scavenger hunt! Well Done!
It was really fun. I was looking on my bookshelves for a new book that wasn’t there before, I had to look in the freezer, behind a photo, in a closet. It was fun. Getting presents that way makes it so much more fun.