Peace and $5.52 on the Perfect Mother's Day

I’m going to go on record right now and say it: I HAD THE BEST MOTHERS DAY EVER. There was no breakfast in bed, new diamond earrings or shiny car in the driveway adorned with a bow. What I got was worth much more than that.

For Mothers Day, my gift was peace.

Of course, I’m talking about peace on the home front – not in the broader, Middle East sense. Rather, happy kids, a patient husband and general Shumway harmony. Even the cat behaved.

I started off the day by sleeping in until 8:30 (cue choir of angels). Waking up feeling well rested, coffee was poured for me and the Sunday Globe slid my way. The kids gave me a box of chocolates (on Mother’s Day, as I explained to everyone, calories don’t count) and I read my homemade cards.

Ben’s card said that he loved me so much because I am brave – and because I was so brave, he had taped $5 inside. Tears welled up in my eyes, as I realized that I had brought my son up and showed him to be brave! I was touched. Granted, later that day he explained that it was because when he put a rubber insect on my pillow I hadn’t flinched, but a mom will take it where she can get it.

Georgia’s card also professed her love for me, and hers included a Ziploc bag with 52 cents in it that I could spend when we went to the garden center. Another home run in my book.

We headed to Volante Farms in Needham to buy flowers for our porch, and despite cutting into Quinn’s naptime, he stomped in puddles and kept a smile on his face. On the ride home, Ben and Georgia sat in the way back and played “James Bond” with each other, laughing the whole way. Although neither Andy nor I knew what the game was, we mouthed the words to each other, “OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SEEING THEM GET ALONG SO WELL???” and dared not interrupt the sibling bliss. Sort of like not talking to your pitcher in the middle of a no-hitter, we just counted our blessings and drove on.

After planting flowers with Georgia and a great dinner of fish tacos (which everybody ate), the kids trotted off to bed and I reflected on what a lucky lady I am. Great husband, wonderful kids, a sunny day, flowers all around, cards that I’ll cherish –

And peace on Spruce Street. Can’t ask for much more than that.