A guilt free day

On Saturday, my husband took our four-year-old shopping at a local store (remember, we live on a sparsely populated island). After repeatedly telling him to keep it a secret, at bedtime she couldn't resist blurting out what she had bought me. "An Ugg! I bought you an Ugg!" she excitedly yelled. I was surprised to hear that our local store carried Uggs, but was excited that I was going to receive such a useful gift. I already owned a pair of their boots, slippers and flip flops and any one of the three could use replacing. The next day, I reached into the gift bag and pulled out a tall coffee MUG with cats on it. "Oh Mommy--I just knew you would love it and I picked it out just for you" she shouted into my face from six inches away while dancing around with her signature happy hands fluttering at her sides. I couldn't have received a better present. My husband brought me home supermarket flowers and cooked and cleaned up dinner. But, aside from my oldest daughter's exuberance, the best part of Mother's Day is that it allows me a guilt-free day. I can let my husband do the majority of the parenting and not accomplish a thing without feeling the nagging guilt that usually accompanies that kind of inaction. To me, this guilt-free pass is the best part of Mother's Day...that is until I remember that Joe and I have moms to attend to. Well, it was great while it lasted.