A mother's day is every day.

It never ceases to amaze me how we enjoy our holidays as Americans. Take Mothers Day for example, it's celebrated with so much pomp and circumstance, flowers on every street corner and chocolates in--your-face galore. I'm at the point where I'm tempted to call it 'Buy a red rose for five bucks from the freeway street vendor, then surprise the woman who nurtured or gave life to you, because you cant think of anything else to get her' Day.

That would probably be more appropriate with such emphasis on commercialization; and such absent-minded nonchalant ways 'grown-ups' seem to acknowledge their mothers.

The exploitation of a consumer-frenzy society has caused so much damage on our family-life. This unsympathetic, unapologetic approach to what is supposed to be a special day is bereft of compassion. It's become a rat race for 'whatever' and burdensome for others. And on the day of, some even go as far as waiting for the drive to their mom's to pick something up along the way. So why even bother?

Mothers Day should be every day, in thought, in spirit... in small acts of kindness. We represent our mothers every day in every thing we do. I know I do, and my mama wouldn't have me 'acting up' any other way. Childrens Day is every day to a mother; something that I am very conscious of as a daughter.

I feel my mother's embrace when I want comfort. I hear her voice when I need counsel. I see her smile, when I seek validation. I taste her cooking when I am hungry. I often get 'mom-sick' and off I go to see her at her home in Long Beach. And often, it's every day of the week.

I celebrate my mother, Masele To'omalatai LiHang with every breath I take, 365 days a year. If I can be half the mom that she was and continues to be for me, I'd be a sweet ass mutha.

Gracing my blog today are my mom shown here with her beautiful sisters who I also acknowledge as shaping my womanhood. From left to right: Aunty Elisa To'omalatai Atuatasi, my mother Masele To'omalatai LiHang and Aunty Luisa To'omalatai Iereneo.

Ia manuia le Aso o Tina. Happy Mothers Day.