Rasa Ardys-Juđka, Editor
Perspectives
Mother’s Day hasn’t been the same since my boys grew out of the “cute, little boy” phase and into the “know-it-all teenager” phase. Oh, don’t get me wrong. They still celebrate Mother’s Day, and we kiss and hug, and I smile. But, it isn’t the same when they ask what I want, and my answer is, instantaneously, peace and quiet, please (as it is for my birthday and Christmas).
This year my answer to that question came out to be, surprisingly, “Impatiens, please.” I thought they’d be as pleased as I with an answer not having to do with a wanton wish for ear muffs as they strummed their guitars to the full blast of the latest music. But, they were confused and quiet.
“Mama, impatience? You’ve always wanted peace and quiet, now you want impatience? Don’t you get that from us all the time?”
Well, this seasoned English teacher caught on pretty quickly.
“Im-pa-tiens. A shade-loving flower of different hues — to plant in the garden,” I said. (At least they learned a new word.)
Light bulbs flashed, and all was understood. I received white and pink impatiens and a few laughs about the misunderstanding. I also realized that I didn’t want peace and quiet anymore. I wanted their company and a chance to spend some time laughing and talking together.
This brought me back to the Mother’s Days of my past with my own mother. There came a time during my own teenager years when spending time with my mother wasn’t the “I have to be here because she says so and wants it to be so.” I began truly enjoying my mother’s company and her friendship. The more we shared, the more I understood about her, the person, and, in turn, about myself.
My mother and I have been geographically apart for all of my married life. Yet, the time we spend together during holidays, summer vacation, and on the phone makes me yearn for the day when she and my father and my husband and I can spend even more time together.
As time goes on, I know that I may become my mother’s caretaker. I look forward to it. She has helped me understand my self as a woman and a Lithuanian. She nurtured my soul and my intellect. It has been and continues to be a wonderful journey through life with a wonderful mentor.
Happy Mother’s Day to Mothers everywhere!
Rasa Ardys-Juđka
Editor