My three sisters and I usually go in together on group gifts for all of the major holidays.  This Mother’s Day was no exception.  We got Mom a new beach cart – sweet, right?

The deal is that we also send her our own cards.  However, I frequently forget to mail mine.  This Mother’s Day was no exception.  To make up for it, I wrote my mother a song, sung to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” originally recorded in 1939 by the Pine Ridge Boys from Atlanta, with a copyright 1940 by Peer International Corporation, words and music by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell.  P.S.  I’m going to butcher all of that right now.

You Are My Mother by Stacy Swiger

The other night, mom, as I lay (not) sleeping

I dreamt I mailed your Mother’s Day card

But when I awoke, Mom, it was still on the counter

So I hung my head and I cried

 

You are my mother, my only mother

You make me happy (well, most the time)

You’ll never know Mom, how much I love you

Because I forgot to mail your lovely card

 

I’ll always love you, because you’re my mom,

You grew me in your baby oven

You changed my diapers, you kissed my boo-boos

You were the first to give me unconditional love(n)

 

You are my mother, my only mother

You make me happy (well, most the time)

You’ll never know Mom, how much I love you

Because I forgot to mail your mediocre card

 

You taught me so much, like “please” and “thank you”

You taught me how to write my name

You taught me how to cook, and bake, and sew things

You showed me that having kids can drive a mom insane

 

You are my mother, my only mother

You make me happy (well, most the time)

You’ll never know Mom, how much I love you

Because I forgot to mail your bush-league card

 

You survived my teen years, then planned my wedding

You watched my kids when I went back to work

I am so sorry for the times I hurt you,

When I was selfish, annoying, or a jerk

 

You are my mother, my only mother

You make me happy (well, most the time)

I’m telling you now Mom, how much I love you

Oh, I’m so happy I never mailed that effing card!

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM!