Squeeze your mom today.

Living abroad means that you might not get to give your mom an in-person hug on Mother’s Day. But if you’re lucky, like I am, you’ll have a jet-setting mom, who loves to travel, and who comes to visit so you get your Mother’s Day hugs a week early.

Last week, while Manolo and the kids were still on vacation, Mom arrived with our friend Cathy for a few wonderful days of visits. And I got them all to myself for the first few days. Glorious days full of yummy wine, grown-up conversations and never having to yell “who left the toilet seat up?” Ahhhhh….

We made the most of our time together here despite my days still being occupied with work. That meant our exploring was limited to staying close to home but that was also what made it special. There is something so comforting in getting to share all the nuances of our Swiss home, our neighbourhood, our community, with people whose opinions matter so much. And to have them pause and say “wow, it’s pretty special here” feels awfully good. Despite the fact that our hearts will always be in Canada, it is so special when we can share our love of this space with those we hold so dear.

And this visit was no exception. We took in the very best parts of our little town and sufficiently wowed Mom & Cathy enough that there’s a good chance that they’ll be back!

Even once Manolo and the kids joined us and our clean and quiet space became less clean and decidedly un-quiet, it was lovely to be together. The kids were treated to loads of attention and time from “The Grandmas” as they called Mom & Cathy, which really is the greatest gift of all. Helena, always pleased to have an audience for her never-ending stories, and Diego, delighting in opportunities to be recognized for just how clever he is.

We basked in their love and generosity. The memory of our time together carries me through to this Mothers’ Day. Moms are really the greatest thing, even the ones you adopt for a few days.

Happy Mothers Day Grandma & Cathy. And to all you other mothers out there. May your day be filled with a deep, contented sigh and joy in all that surrounds you.