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Catherine Connors is a mother, writer and recovering academic who traded the lecture hall for the playroom and discovered that university students and preschoolers have much the same attention span. She still dips her toes into academic waters by writing the occasional scholarly article about the place of motherhood in Western philosophy, but mostly now she changes diapers and wipes noses and indulges in long reflections on whether Yo Gabba Gabba is a harbinger of the decline of western civilization. Oh, and she blogs: in addition to Bad Mother blogging at BeliefNet, she is, among other things, the author of HerBadMother.com, Managing Editor of MamaPop, moderator of Her Bad Mother’s Basement, co-founder and co-editor of WeCovet, Contributing Editor at BlogHer, and (deep breath) founder of and contributor to Canada Moms Blog. And in her spare time… oh, wait. She doesn’t have spare time. But she’s okay with that.
It’s my birthday. It’s kind of a weird day for me, now, because it follows so closely upon the heels of my son’s birthday. Also, I’m old, and birthdays are a heck of a lot less fun when you’re old. You know, what with the notable lack of balloons and streamers and thickly frosted cakes and all.
But this morning my mom sent me something that brought me all the way back to my childhood, to the sweet, sweet joy of being young and carefree and adored by one’s mother. She sent me this. And I cried. Happy, happy, love-rich tears.
My birthday wish is that I grow to be one-tenth the mother she is, that I provide my own children with such happy memories, and that they love me as much as I love her.
And I will wish it every year of my life.
posted May 21, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Catherine–Your mother is definitely the coolest mom/grandmother ever! I’m in awe. Happy Birthday to you! It’s your day, enjoy every minute (celebrate all week, in fact–why should it be over in a day?). I wish you lots of joy this year. You are a welcome addition to this site.
–Bird
posted May 21, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a fabulous year! You have so much to be proud of.
posted May 21, 2009 at 11:25 pm
That is fabulous. What a wonderful present.
Happy Birthday!
posted May 22, 2009 at 11:45 am
Happy birthday! Many happy returns.
From all your friends at Beliefnet.
posted May 22, 2009 at 4:07 pm
And in the spirit of the birthday post about your son you wrote a few days ago … five things I love about reading your blog:
1. You make me laugh
2. You make me ponder
3. You make me question
4. I love your writing style
5. I can relate!
posted May 22, 2009 at 11:08 pm
your mom seems awesome. i’m envious…my mom kinda sucks. but i’m trying hard with my daughter, and we’re not so bad together. happy birthday
posted May 23, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Awwww . . . what a sweet birthday gift from Bad Grandma. Though I confess, I have to ask . . . putting your cat in a pillowcase and dunking it in the toilet????
I think, no matter how old anybody gets, they are entitled to fun birthdays, complete with balloons and streamers and frosty cakes.
posted May 25, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Iris – I was washing the cat. It makes TOTAL sense.
posted June 4, 2009 at 3:11 pm
My b/day this May was the worst day of my life. My son and his wife have decided they are estranged from us – because after many months my husband and I decided we would not accept their controlling manner – I have cried for many a day in the last few months. Until they decided to do this we all were a happy family.
So enjoy your b/days – remember your mother’s b/day – and try, try not to ever put your mother (or father) in the sad place we are today. Fortunately we are old and hopefully it all won’t last a long, long time – and we have one another.
posted June 10, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Happy (belated) birthday!!!