Mother's Day

Usually when I think of Mother's Day, I think one thing: Oh gosh....I totally forgot.
This year was no different. A week beforehand, I had nothing figured out. One of my friends at school said that she planned on making breakfast for her mother today, another said she hadn't really thought about it, and the third said she'd make her a card or something. I ended up buying my Mom a movie (she LOVES movies) and I baked her a cake.
But recently, I've thought of something we can all give our mothers this Mother's Day, and for the rest to come. It's called respect. 
My Mom and I have a better than average relationship. I mean, I can talk to her about boys, about growing up, about a lot of things. I'm not afraid to tell her about something awkward and embarrassing; as a mother who's a girl (duh), I know she can help me out in some of those weird moments in life. She knows who I like, and I'm not upset about it.
One thing I've noticed this year more than usual, is our culture's lack of respect towards our parents. We think our parents are dumb and that they have no idea what they're talking about when they tell us stuff like, "Don't date so-and-so" or "I don't want you outside alone at night" or whatever else. My parents are very "strict" when it comes to my safety. For starters, no sleepover's with friends. My friends say they're helicopter parents, over-protective.
For me personally, I sometimes want to smack my friends. Who are they to say my parents don't know anything? Are they 20-30 years older than their parents or something? I don't think so. Parents were put into our lives by God to teach us the right way. Sure, there are those parents that don't know how to discipline, or who end up in jail, or are just bad examples in general. But we're called to listen to them-it's one of the ten commandments, if you don't believe me.
When it comes to me, I respect my parents for the most part, but I have a hard time not rolling my eyes at them, or frowning in frustration when they tell me for the millionth time to not go to bed late. 
However, today is Mother's Day. Today is the day when we honor our mothers, say thanks to them for keeping us alive over the years, for not "choosing" abortion, for making sure we don't starve by making us the best meals ever. But it shouldn't end by the end of today, our love and care for our mothers. It needs to continue on, forever. Our mother's do more for us than we know (until we become parents ourselves). They don't have to sacrifice their time and energy-they could throw us on the street. Some do.  Luckily, mine haven't, and won't.
I have some way to go when it comes to respecting my parents, I'll admit. However, today for me and other kids needs to be more than a one-day love for our mothers. Today needs to be the start of a new, respectful, loving relationship with the woman who bore us in and out of her womb.
Who's with me? :)
~Kathy