Today is Mother’s Day – and for once, Linus remembered the tradition.
Here in Germany, it’s common for kids to surprise their moms with breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day morning. The past few years, he’s somehow always forgotten (classic teen move), but this year… he actually did it. We skipped the “in bed” part (we’re not that kind of household), but true to his word, Linus made us brunch – around noon, which honestly fits how weekends work around here.
When I came into the kitchen, there was a quiet “Happy Mother’s Day,” the table already set, and next to it: a bouquet of white tulips and a bag of my favourite Nutella biscuits. No big performance – just that, and a promise he’d take over all the chores I was supposed to do that day. There weren’t many, but still – it was thoughtful. And I let myself enjoy it.
Moments like this remind me of how motherhood is really built – not on grand gestures or perfect days, but in small, intentional moments where you see them becoming who they are. Not perfect. Not polished. Just kind. Grounded. Aware. The kind of person who forgets for a few years, but then suddenly remembers – and makes it count.
I don’t have the answers for how to raise great kids – and I’m not about to hand out tips today. But I do know this: sometimes they forget, and sometimes they remember in the sweetest ways. And when they do, it reminds you that maybe you’ve been doing okay all along.
And lately, those little reminders have been stacking up – signs that Linus is really growing up.
The biggest one? He turned 18 two weeks ago. Eighteen. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.
The day itself was exactly his style: low-key, no fuss, and fully on his terms. He slept in (non-negotiable), had brunch made of waffles topped with ice cream (because birthday = no rules), and took the day slow – just how he likes it.
We gave him his gifts after brunch – nothing flashy, just things chosen with care. The main one was a new phone, finally replacing the “starter phone” we got him at 13. We never expected it to last five years, but somehow it did. This new one – an iPhone 16e – was practical, with great battery, and not overly “look at me.” Thankfully, he liked it!
Later in the afternoon, we headed into town for tea and cake – no photos (I’ve semi-retired from the role of photo-obsessed mom). My sister-in-law had booked us into a Panic Room experience – zombie apocalypse edition. Linus wasn’t too excited at first (he’d done one before on a school trip and didn’t love it), but this time? It was actually fun. We all had a blast.
We ended the day at a Chinese buffet with robot servers. Again – no photos, just full plates and that soft, satisfied silence you get after a good meal with your people.
Meanwhile, back in sick leave world, physiotherapy officially began.
During the first two sessions, my therapist showed me a series of exercises in lying positions. At first, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to make of them. They didn’t seem connected to the movements I actually struggle with – like bending, lifting, or pulling – and doing them on the floor wasn’t exactly easy either. Getting down and back up with my back the way it is? Let’s just say it wasn’t graceful.
But I followed along, trusting the process… mostly.
By the third session, though, I couldn’t help but speak up. I told her (in my best careful German) that I was hoping for exercises that would help me when I return to work – because that’s the goal. I need to be able to move in ways that matter, especially in a kindergarten setting where crouching, lifting, and quick shifts are part of daily life.
She listened. She understood. And she shifted the plan. That day, she introduced me to six new exercises – three in standing position and three in crawling position. They were harder. More demanding. But they finally felt like something that could help me function again.
I’ve been trying to do them at home too – carefully. She warned me not to push through pain, especially because of the nerve involvement, which (honestly) I’m still not sure I completely understood… the entire conversation was in German, and my comprehension wobbled somewhere around the middle. But the main point landed: don’t force it. Ease into it. Build from the basics.
I still have seven sessions left. I’m hopeful – cautiously. I know I’ve got a long way to go, but at least now it feels like we’re heading in the right direction.
And while I’ve been crawling through recovery, I’ve also been climbing the ranks in Duolingo.
This week, I made it into the Top 3 – which means extra gems (finally!) and, more importantly, I’m still safely hanging on in the Diamond League. I know, I know – it’s “just an app,” but the routine of it has genuinely helped. The streak pressure, the daily goals, the silly little sounds – it’s doing something. Especially for vocabulary retention. I’m remembering more. Connecting things faster.
And truth be told, without this extended sick leave, I don’t think I’d have had the time or brainspace to stick with it this consistently. So for now, I’m taking the win – and the gems. At the very least, I can now confidently spell Meerschweinchen without crying. That’s got to count for something.
So that’s the latest – Mother’s Day came and went in a flash, but it left me feeling quietly grateful. No grand conclusions, just little steps, small wins, and a whole lot of figuring things out as we go. Every week still feels a little unpredictable, but I’m learning to count the small progress, laugh at the weird parts, and let the rest unfold. Bit by bit, we move. Salute to all the mothers out there doing their best – may we keep showing up, in whatever way we can. Let’s see what next week brings.