From Waffles to 'Minnesota': The Legacy of Mother's Day Brunch in Our Family
There is something about annual traditions and living within each season that I crave, and it gives me comfort. One of my favorite traditions in May is Mother's Day brunch (along with May flowers blooming, strawberry picking and the official start of the summer). For as long as I can remember, my sisters and I have teamed up to create an over-the-top brunch for my mom and grandma. Sunday morning, we would quietly tiptoe downstairs, take out our best dishes to set up on the patio outside (my mom loves eating meals outdoors whenever possible), and start whipping up brunch dishes. Once everything was ready, our youngest sister, Angela, would get mom (and grandma) to bring them outside for the grand reveal while Alisa and I added finishing touches.
As years went by and we got older, our dishes became more sophisticated, and our teamwork became seamless. We share a strong bond of sisterhood, which we call "sister telepathy"—we didn't even have to speak to know exactly what each person needed to do without getting in each other's way. We knew who was best at what and naturally fell into those roles. I remember one year when my dad walked into the kitchen, amazed at how we all knew where we needed to be and what needed to be done without saying a word. I think that was the year we made a cake from scratch!
We have been doing this for so long that I can't quite pinpoint its exact beginnings. Just this past Mother's Day, we traced its roots back to May 2003. That year marked a significant milestone as my grandmother had newly settled in the US, and we celebrated each milestone of her first year, showing her how holidays are celebrated here. That year marked the beautiful beginning of Mother's Day brunch on my parents' patio.
Year after year, our Mother's Day brunch tradition transformed into more than just a meal; it became a day filled with making memories, showing our love to the most important women in our lives, and enjoying each other's company. Each year, we found new ways to make the day special by trying out new recipes or adding new elements to the table while holding onto the few constants that remained unchanged year after year.
Our outdoor furniture has become a symbol of our tradition, standing firm for over two decades. Through moves and milestones, it has remained a consistent presence at our celebrations, embodying our family value of togetherness. While we've experimented with different dishes over the years, some things remain unchanged: the sparkle in Mom's eyes as we unveil her special brunch (she insists it's her favorite meal of the year), our seamless teamwork as siblings creating an unforgettable brunch experience, and, of course, those iconic waffles—always the stars of the show, served on our faithful patio furniture.
As we've reached various milestones in our lives—me becoming a mom, my sisters getting married—we've held tight to the tradition of hosting Mother's Day brunch for our mom in our childhood home. It's a chance to hit pause and appreciate the simple joys of life around our beloved patio furniture. It's a tradition we all deeply cherish, one we hope to pass down to our children.
And it seems the torch is already being passed, as my little one recruits her dad to whip up waffles and a 'Minnesota' (her adorable term for mimosas) bright and early on Mother's Day morning. This has now evolved into our new tradition—I enjoy double the breakfasts every Mother's Day, one prepared by my daughter (and husband) and another by my sisters. Good thing breakfast is my all-time favorite meal!
Experiencing both the giving and receiving ends of Mother's Day brunch has truly been a gift, allowing me to appreciate the beauty in both roles. When I'm on the giving end, there's a special joy in planning and coordinating with my sisters to create a memorable experience for our mom (and grandma, when she was with us). Witnessing her smile and all of us gathered around the table makes every bit of preparation and planning worthwhile. Yet, it's when I'm on the receiving end that I truly understand the depth of love and care poured into this annual celebration. I remember my mom always using the phrase "You'll understand when you're a mom." This phrase truly becomes meaningful in many ways when you become a parent. I now understand how we made my mom feel on Mother's Day with our simple gesture of making her a meal and bringing our family together, infusing this tradition with higher meaning to me. Embracing the pampering and enjoying the thoughtful gestures of my family without any expectations is indeed the best kind of gift—one that offers something meaningful to both the giver and the receiver.
