I received an email from a reader that I decided to share with you since tomorrow is Mother’s Day and, aside from Hallmark, I think you can always say it best with flowers. The reader explained very sweetly that he had two moms, “they are lesbians.” I appreciated his candor and also it was helpful in case I might have assumed he had a mom and a step-mom. Anyhoodles (see post 2/26/2012), he had researched the care of cut flowers on a website that made them sound more high maintenance than a small herd of hippos so I felt obliged to assuage his doubt and confusion and explain there is simply little better than a gift of flowers. Especially from a son. I wrote:
Dear Joe (name changed to protect the innocent),
I don’t normally respond directly to my mail but as a mother, I cannot pass up the chance to guide you in giving your moms flowers. My response is YES, YES, YES and the mama’s health website, as you said, makes giving flowers seem so troublesome and it is not. It is always the best kind of joy to receive flowers. Girlfriends get flowers, stage actors get flowers, grandmas get flowers, but as a mother, I am most excited and pleased when I get a bouquet of anything from my kids.
And I never thought about the problem of two mothers on Mother’s Day! You have to worry about the gift times two. If you live near your moms, my advice is get them each a bouquet, not just one. And keep the flowers simple. You can never go wrong with all of one thing. No matter the number of flowers you choose–three or a dozen. All roses are a no-brainer. I love white, peach or yellow– but no red. All tulips are wonderful. Tulips are the only flower that continues to grow after you cut it. Also if you put a penny in water, the copper makes them stand up straight and not sag over the side of the vase.
A general rule for flower selection is: no carnations, no bakers fern, no mums, no bows stuck in the middle on a plastic stick, no dyed to match anything and you are good to go.
If possible, deliver them in a vase, as many people panic at the thought of what to put fresh cut flowers in if received in a loose bunch. Get them at your grocery store, a florist, a street vendor, buy them at the train station. It doesn’t matter. Your moms will love that you remembered and that you remembered them with flowers.
And the after care is up to them. Most cut flowers bloom happily for at least a week just stuck in a vase with water to fend for themselves.
The moment they are presented is the best part no matter how long they last. I don’t know a woman on earth that doesn’t melt at the sight of an unexpected bouquet.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
And happy Mother’s Day to your moms,
Mrs. Mom
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, Y’ALL!!!