My Poor Mom

Remember how I said I was the best at remembering my family members' birthdays? SO good, in fact, that had been deemed the "birthday reminder" for all the siblings.... well, last week I missed a VERY important birthday, and now feel like scum. I spent the entire day telling myself it was my mom's birthday, and still didn't remember to call her. I even sent my brother Derek and IM reminding him to call - to which he said, "thanks, but I've got this one covered."

By about 6:30 pm, Maddie got sick - and that was the last time "CALL YOUR MOM" crossed my mind. It was about 8:30 the next morning that I panicked. I immediately got on the horn and apologized profusely for the horrible act. My mom was so kind and understanding. She also let me know that Derek (Mr. "Thanks but I've got this one") Greg, and Sarah had also forgotten to call. She didn't tell me that to be rude - but to make me feel better. It didn't work - I felt worse. Four out of her six kids had forgotten to call her. I made it my mission the next day to remind all of us slackers. First was Derek - I had reminded him, his wife had reminded him, and he forgot the same way I did. Next was Greg - he had SEVEN people remind him that day, and still forgot. Then I IMed Sarah - this was my favorite. This was our conversation:

Me: Just try to call Mom today.

Sarah: Oh, I know. Thanks for the reminder - but I'm going to call her in a bit.....but I ACTUALLY REMEMBERED THIS YEAR!!

Me: Um, you remembered? Did you remember that it was yesterday?

Sarah: WHAT????

Me: Yeah - we all missed it.

Sarah: I thought it was on the 1oth!!!

Me: It was, the 10th was yesterday.

Sarah: NO!! I thought yesterday was the 9th!

Me: Nope - you'd better call her.

Sarah: Doing it now.

So, I've learned that even though we all know WHEN my poor mother's birthday is, it doesn't make us any better at calling her. The good news is that she had two great days. One in which she did all sorts of fun stuff with her friend, the next day when all of her groveling children called and told her what terrible people they were. She considered it a second-day-birthday-bonus. Thanks for looking on the bright side, Mom. You're the best. Here are a few tidbits about my adorable mother.

- My mom's kitchen never closes. She probably cleans it seventeen times per day, but is willing to cook you ANYTHING at ANY hour.

-She's a night owl, and I don't feel bad calling her house at 12:30 am. I know she's up. She, however knows not to call me after 10.

-She drives a Passat and talks on an Iphone (how hip is that?)

-She has held up MANY a fast-food-drive-through line while waiting for someone to take her order. Not because she's slow at ordering, but because she's sitting at the "please pull forward" menu or the random News Paper Box in the drive though waiting for it to talk to her.

-On more than one occasion my mom has driven away from the bank drive through with the "tube" sitting in her passenger seat filled with her money. She has also (on more than one occasion) made whatever sucker of a child she had with her - go into the bank and return the tube while she hid in the car.

Mom, you're awesome, and you would do anything for ANYONE no matter what. I love you so much, and hope you can forgive all your awful children for forgetting to call! Happy Belated Birthday.