HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY 2026
This is your reminder that Sunday will be Mother’s Day. I know that some people, (mainly those who are either not mothers or don’t have theirs for whatever reason,) feel it’s not an important holiday, but even though I lost my mother over fourteen years ago, it still means something to me.
One of the actual cute cards I sent my mother. (The rest are really Not About Me! I just thgought you’d get a kick out of this one.) Photo by Karen Salkin.
But it does not have to be your own mother you honor that day—there are always sisters, aunties, grandmas, daughters, good friends, nice neighbors, even single fathers who do the work of both parents!
Since my little mo didn’t care much about gifts, (unless they were dolls or cream puffs,) I always did something more fun, for both of us. (I repeated the same thing for her birthday two weeks later, as well.) And that is this: First, I spent at least an hour, usually closer to two, buying tons of greeting cards for her. I always chose seven to ten, and included everything from funny to clever to cute to pretty to heartfelt. And then I’d spend another hour or so deciding their order and writing them out. I’d put the numbers on the envelopes, so she’d see their progression and open them that way, and then sent them off. The mail deliverers on her Brooklyn block always announced them with words like, “Your California daughter did it again!” I think she was more proud for them to notice that than she even was happy to receive them!
One of the lovely miniatures painted by my little mo, May Rose Salkin. Photo by Karen Salkin.
That effort from me to make them fun meant more to her than just opening a package with a Mother’s Day gift, (though gifts happened from time to time, as well, but all year, not just for Mother’s Day.) When she passed away, and I was clearing out her house, I found that my notorious decluttering mother had kept…them all!!! There were barely any cards from my two siblings, (perhaps they hadn’t been kind enough to send any,) but all of mine through the years.
Outside of that annual personal happiness, there are things I adore when it comes to special Mother’s Day touches in regard to public entertainments. For example, the night before the occasion, Saturday Night Live often has the cast come out one at a time with their moms. And some of the sports teams show their mothers, as well, or record messages for them, that are played during their games on Sunday. I love all of that specialness.
I share all of these thoughts to remind everyone to please honor anyone you know who deserves it this Sunday, in whatever way you can.
And to all of you who celebrate, or are celebrated yourselves, I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
