This year’s Mother’s Day saw Second son staying overnight at his parents’ home alone.
2-1 had English proficiency test preparations from morning till evening, and Second son’s wife unusually had a part-time job on Sunday, leaving everyone with their own schedules.
Under normal circumstances, Second son would have preferred spending his time in a mountain stream, but since Grandpa mentioned needing some help on Sunday, he stayed at the family home.
When he checked, Grandpa’s request was simply for him to “just be at home.”
Grandpa had to stay at the local farmer’s market where he sells vegetables as part of his rotational duty until noon. During this time, he needed someone to keep an eye on Grandma.
Grandma’s dementia, though not causing her to wander, still made it worrisome to leave her alone. Knowing that Second son would likely be there on Sunday, Grandpa asked him for this favor.
So it was on this Mother’s Day.
This year’s gift was a tiny preserved flower arrangement.
In previous years, Second son often chose practical items like tableware or food, but this year he decided against practical gifts.
He noticed that using new tools was becoming increasingly difficult for Grandma, and she often forgot about food items, leaving them to spoil. The preserved flowers could be a reminder each time she saw them, serving as a lasting memory.
Second son stayed at his parents’ home until the morning, tidied up the woodworking area and the tool shed a bit, and harvested strawberries that were nearing their peak before heading back.
On the way home, he did a bit of shopping for dinner.
Upon returning, he prepared a strawberry dessert for his own mother, 2-1’s mother, as a present (which, of course, both Second son and 2-1 would also enjoy).
