May 10th is Mother's Day (Haha no hi).

Although "Happy ~" can be translated as "~ omedetou," there is

no Japanese equivalent of "Happy Mother's Day." Sending a Mother's Day card is not too common in
Japan, but giving flowers (especially carnations) is a popular thing to do. I am very close with my mom.
She is very open-minded and has been very supportive of whatever I have done. Since hugging parents
(except by children) is not a common practice in Japan, I sometime wonder if words are enough to show
love. Besides, I feel a little embarrassed to express my feelings in front of her, but I always appreciate
her open-mindedness.

Japanese Translation
母の日

五月十日は母の日です。英語の"Happy ~"は、"～おめでとう"と訳されることもありますが、日
本語で"Happy Mother's Day"に値する言葉はありません。日本では母の日にカードを贈ることは
あまり行われませんが、花（特にカーネーションが母の日の花とされています）を贈ることは
一般的です。私は母ととても仲がいいです。母はどんなことにも偏見がなく、私がすることに
はいつでも理解を示してくれました。親を抱きしめることは（子供以外）日本にはない習慣な
ので、言葉だけで十分に愛情は伝わるのかなと思うこともあります。そのうえ私は面と向かっ
て感謝の気持ちを表すことに、少し照れくささも感じるのですが、母の寛大さ、理解力をとて
もありがたく思っています。お母さん、いつもありがとう。

Romaji Translation

Go-gatsu tooka wa haha no hi desu. Eigo no "Happy~" wa, "~omedetou" to yakusareru koto mo arimasu
ga, nihongo de "Happy Mother's Day" ni ataisuru kotoba wa arimasen. Nihon dewa haha no hi ni kaado
o okuru koto wa amari okonawaremasen ga, hana (toku ni kaaneeshon ga haha no hi no hana to
sareteimasu) o okuru koto wa ippanteki desu. Watashi wa haha to totemo naka ga ii desu. Haha wa
donna koto nimo henken ga naku, watashi ga suru koto niwa itsudemo rikai o shimeshite kuremashita.
Oya o dakishimeru koto wa (kodomo igai) nihon niwa nai shuukan nanode, kotoba dake de juubun ni
aijou wa tsutawaru no kana to omou koto mo arimasu. Sonoue watashi wa men to mukatte kansha no
kimochi o arawasu koto ni, sukoshi terekusasa mo kanjiru no desu ga, haha no kandaisa, rikairyoku o
totemo arigataku omotte imasu. Okaasan, itsumo arigatou!

Note: The translation is not always literal.

Beginner's Phrases

I am very close with my mom.

Watashi wa haha to totemo naka ga ii desu.
わたしは ははと とても なかが いい です。
私は母ととても仲がいいです。
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