Welcome back to our Memos from Mom journal. This month, Mom reflects on how she enjoys spending Mother’s Day, one of her favorite brunch recipes, and memories of her own mom, my Grandma Rose. She also gives a heartwarming insight to ways to remember your mom if she is no longer with us, which on a day like Mother’s Day can be especially difficult.

Why Mother’s Day?

Kind of a dumb question for all the mothers out there, I know, but it’s a good one for sparking interest in the origins of what some might think is the original “Hallmark Holiday”.

There are stories that tie Mother’s Day to ancient Greek and Roman festivals, but the official Mother’s Day holiday can be attributed to the dedicated work of Anna Jarvis. When Anna’s mother died in 1905, she proposed that a special day be established to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Mother’s Day was celebrated for the first time in 1907 and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday. We’ve been celebrating Mom on her special day ever since!

Honoring Your Mom

How you choose to honor your mom on Mother’s Day is a very personal thing, largely dependent on what she would enjoy and what you are willing and able to do. For me, it’s not so much about getting gifts and spending time alone doing anything I want. It’s more about being remembered and appreciated for the person (and mom) that I am. Here are a few simple but thoughtful suggestions that mean a lot to me:

Maddie and I at the Carlsbad Flower Gardens

Spend Time Together – Don’t assume that Mom wants to be alone on Mother’s Day! She may prefer spending time with the people she loves, but doing things that interest her. For example, does Mom like to garden? Spend time in the flower beds with her. Does she like to play cards? How about a hand or two of gin rummy? Besides cooking, I like to play Scrabble (it’s the closest thing to a crossword puzzle in a board game that I’ve found). Even if you don’t like doing what Mom does, show her you care and are interested in her interests by spending even a little time doing those things with her.
Call or Write – You may not live close to your mom and you may not get to see her often, but let me tell you, there’s no greater gift for a mom than an unsolicited call, card or letter from a child who takes a few moments to ask her how she’s doing. If you do call your Mom a lot, write her a short letter. In this day and age of easy digital communication, a hand-written letter is a sure-fire way to show someone they are worth the time and effort.
Breakfast/Brunch – (Or any meal really. I just happen to be a fan of breakfast/brunch on holidays.) – If you’ve read previous Memos from Mom posts, you probably know how much I love to cook. Fortunately, I’ve been able to pass that interest on to my daughters. For me, an ideal Mother’s Day would include spending time in the kitchen with them cooking up a tasty breakfast or brunch (with mimosas, of course). It’s literally one of my favorite places to be with my favorite people! Here is one of my favorite recipes for Eggs Benedict Casserole, an easy and delicious take on a brunch classic that we love to cook together in our kitchen:

Eggs Benedict Casserole (from Taste of Home)

6 English muffins, split and cut into 1-inch pieces

12 ounces Canadian bacon, chopped

8 large eggs

2 cups 2% milk

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon paprika (we also like to use Old Bay)

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE (or use a sauce packet for a short cut… Maddie’s favorite way!):

4 large egg yolks

½ cup heavy whipping ream

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ cup butter, melted

Minced chives, optional

Place half the Canadian bacon in a greased 3-qt. or 13x9-in. baking dish; top with English muffins and remaining bacon. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and onion powder; pour over top. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.

Preheat oven to 375°. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats. Sprinkle top with paprika (or Old Bay). Bake, covered, 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over simmering water, whisk egg yolks, cream, lemon juice and mustard until blended; cook until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and temperature reaches 160°, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to very low. Very slowly drizzle in warm melted butter, whisking constantly. Serve sauce immediately with casserole. If desired, sprinkle with chives.

Remembering Your Mom

I lost my Mom several years ago (Maddie and her sister were only three years old at the time), so I know that Mother’s Day can sometimes come with a bit of melancholy. Turn that around by invoking happy memories of your mother in these ways:

Talk to Her – I’m often accused of talking to myself and I admit I do it a lot! I say that’s because I’m the only one who listens to me. But I like to think that my mother still listens, so I’m not shy about talking out loud to her (or to myself) 😊.
Share Memories, Photos, and Videos – It’s said that sharing memories and talking about someone helps keep them alive in spirit. Telling stories, looking at photos and viewing videos with others who knew your Mom is a great way to do this. I like to share these with my girls, especially since their memories of my mother are faint at best. It’s my way of keeping her spirit alive for them.
Ask People Questions – If you know people who knew your Mom better than you did -- siblings, neighbors, good friends -- spend some time asking them questions about her. Their stories and memories will come from a different perspective and may enrich your understanding of the person your mother was to them.

Mother’s Day gives us the wonderful gift of a special occasion to honor or remember someone very central to our lives. If you have the means, present your Mom with something she will love – your time, your presence, your gratitude.

My own mother loved her ‘housecoats’ which became the inspiration for This is My Housedress. Each time I put one on, I think of her and hope that she is looking down on this thriving small business and smiling with pride!