5/8/2022 Holiday Round Up: Mother’s Day

I’m a bit emotional because this is the first year that my twin sister is celebrating Mother’s Day as a mom! Seems like just yesterday we were conspiring on how to break out of the crib together. Now she’s got her own stealthy human to outmaneuver. In honor of Moriah & the rock of our family, my dear mama Ellen, who made it all look easy, here’s this week’s maternally-oriented selections.

Picture Book 1

Title: My Monster Mama Loves Me So

Author: Laura Leuck

Illustrator: Mark Buehner

Recommended for: Grades PreK-K

Basic plot: This rhyming book outlines all the ways a monster child knows his monster mother cares for him. They look a little like Shrek crossed with Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. & if that doesn’t sell you, you don’t deserve fine literature anyways.

Why I love it: First off, I was obsessed with this. OBSESSED. My Mom can vouch for that – I probably made her read this so many times she may actually have portions memorized by now. I loved the little details – the mama on the cover is wearing one dog earring & one cat earring, with a snake scarf, as if she didn’t have time to find the matching set – but more importantly, the pureness of the message is so saccharine. It really explores the zillion daily sacrifices & thankless tasks moms endure to get their kiddos through the day, whether it is dressing them for school, helping them with projects, carting them around, alleviating their boredom, or just getting them ready for bed.

When I became a teacher, I encountered a phenomenon that was heretofore unknown to me – there are women out there who have kids & don’t care about them the way my Mom cared about me. They don’t invest in them, speak kindly, provide basic care, ensure necessities, scaffold dreams, or even smile. I remember coming home one day completely rocked by this mother who didn’t bother to pick up her son from school (he waited for hours until a relative was dispatched). When I contacted her, she told me on the phone that she had more important things to do than make sure he got home safely & if I cared so much, I could just “keep him”. Can you even imagine? I had nightmares about this woman for months after the fact.

I realized I had grown up with the privilege of having a mother who loved for, provided, & rooted for me. My Mom went to parent-teacher conferences & school concert recitals, always made sure I was fed, bought me any book I wanted, & spoke highly about all of us to friends & family. Not only that, but she had a habit of “adopting” our friends & making sure that they had a mother figure & a place at the dinner table if need be. I’ve seen that behavior in other women – my friend Olivia’s mother, Lisa, or my friend Nick’s mother, Tammy. It must be the trait of remarkable women that, even with a full plate of responsibilities & stresses, they always make room to distribute more love & welcome other kiddos into their homes.

There are so many children who are neglected regularly. This book takes on the perspective of a child, shows how he celebrates & revels in the love his mother bestows, & perhaps is a call to action for mothers who aren’t as involved as they could be. Every child deserves the warmth, compassion, patience, & safety that Monster Mama gives unblinkingly. I beseech you – if you know a child who isn’t receiving that, love on them. It is a unique service that only you can fulfill.

Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks (cheapest $1.30 & up, used).

Extension activity: If your kid attends a public elementary school, contact his or her teacher & ask if there’s a student in that class who goes without regularly – never gets permission slips signed for field trips or school events, sometimes skips lunch, wears old or dirty clothes, sometimes repeatedly, etc. Consider making a care package of food, clothing, hygiene supplies, school supplies, or trendy goods like electronics or toys, & donate it anonymously. Even just a gift card would be welcome, or funding a ticket to the next big field trip. The SAFE Coordinator can assist with this, so it can be done privately & efficiently. Never try to find out who it goes to & never breathe a word about it to your own kiddo. Continue as you’re financially able & willing to do so. If you want, include a card that says something encouraging, like “You can do it! Ace those FSAs!” or “The community is so proud of you for showing up each day & trying your best!” Additionally, volunteer at PTSA fundraisers & go to school events. Find that kiddo standing alone & commend them or offer kind words. Give the teacher a bag of Valentine's for kids that didn't bring any to pass out. Ask for the Angel Tree list during Christmas & secure gifts for needy babies. Carpool. There are hundreds of ways to be impactful.

You can also do what my Mom did – whenever Hannukah rolled around, she would take the day off work, drive to my school & make potato pancakes for the entire class. I’m convinced that those latkes were the best meal some of those kiddos received that week (or ever, but I’m biased).

Picture Book 2

Title: Just Me and My Mom (A Little Critter Book)

Author & Illustrator: Mercer Mayer

Recommended for: Grades PreK-K

Basic plot: Imagine Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but your mom tags along. In this sweet classic by one of the most prolific author-illustrators of all time (well over 300+ titles to his name), a young boy spends the day going on various outings with his mother. The quality time, bonding, & overt tenderness are heartwarming.

Why I love it: There’s a scene that really gets me. The young boy has run to the front of the audience to get a closer look at the seals, & he states that his “Mom got mad because she couldn’t find me.” The book does a great job of portraying this as a comical, casual thing, since it’s from the child’s POV. But as an adult, this is the worst of scenarios. It is terrifying, losing your child in public & wondering where they are, if they are safe, if they are scared, etc. I love the brilliance of that duality. There are so many little tidbits that adults will commiserate with. I truly think they’ll feel SEEN reading this book.

Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks (cheapest $0.81 & up, used).

Extension activity: Obviously, plan a parent/kiddo day of your own! Conspire with your child(ren) to go on one or more outings of mutual selection. Additionally, have your kiddo read this AGAIN when they have their first child, so they can chart their different reactions. Spending quality time isn't always seamless, especially if you work away from home or if you're a single parent. But I promise, even if it is just 20 minutes at the neighborhood park, your kiddo will appreciate being yours for any length of time.

Picture Book 3

Title: Love You Forever

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Sheila McGraw

Recommended for: Grades K-1

Basic plot: Do you really need me to tell you? I’m pretty sure everyone has read this & I’m super certain it was everyone’s first bout with PTSD. But in case you haven’t, grab the Kleenexes because this book will wreck you. It is a poignant circle of life, no Lion King necessary. The story begins simply enough, with a young mother holding her newborn son & rocking him to sleep with the vow/lullaby of loving him forever. As the story progresses, the mother & son both age until their roles are somewhat reversed, with the son caring for a now-infirm mother nearing the end of her days.

I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

As long as I’m living

my baby you’ll be.

I seriously wouldn’t be surprised if my Mom sues Munsch for plagiarism one day, since she’s always iterated to us that we’ll still be her babies well into our 70s. Even now, she still calls me her little lamb or terms of endearment in Yiddish that I can never translate & I'm pushing 30.

Why I love it: I actually hate this book. I hate feeling sad. I hate thinking about losing anyone I love. I hate the helplessness & fear it inspires. It always makes me feel like Cher, trying desperately to turn back time. But I also appreciate the wisdom, the universal message, the gorgeous simplicity – there’s a reason this book has remained a staple in American homes. Anything that can make you feel this deeply is worth a read, even if it guts you. Sometimes it hurts to be reminded of what’s to come, but it also makes you take a moment to appreciate what you have. I can think of no better day to celebrate the incredible permanence of a mother’s love. For all the pain of pregnancy & childbirth, the bitterness yields to joy & eternal, very powerful togetherness. God bless all you amazing mothers <3

Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks, OverDrive (cheapest $0.94 & up, used). Guaranteed you can find this in Barnes & Noble, anywhere.

Extension activity: I mean…I dare you to read it without crying?

Additionally, I challenge you & your kiddo(s) to come up with a similarly catchy jingle about motherhood. It may also be nice to write all the things you love about your kid(s) & have them do the same for you. In difficult times, that list may be a reassuring lifeline.

Thanks for tuning in! Keep the pages turning until we meet again.

Love,

Sash