I kinda meant for this to be part of the next chapter, but decided to take a different direction. Still felt this was good enough for a standalone bit. Happy late Mother's Day!

Minisode - Mother's Day

Lincoln was in his room playing video games when there came a knock on his door.

"It's open!" Lincoln told whoever was on the other side.

Rita opened the door and poked her head inside, "Hi Lincoln."

Lincoln paused his game and waved, "Hi mom, what's up?"

Rita was quiet a moment, "Um, do you know what day it is today?" she asked.

Lincoln rubbed his chin, "Sunday, right?"

"It's Mother's Day."

"Oh...uh, happy Mother's day."

Rita frowned, "Did you really forget or is this some prank Luan put you up to?"

Lincoln shrugged, "Well, we all pitched in for a card and gift. I figured Leni or dad was going to give it to you."

Rita groaned, "Leni is spending the day with her son...as for your father, he's busy with his restaurant again."

"Huh. Maybe you'll get it later? That's not too bad, right?"

Rita sighed, "I failed you Lincoln."

"What?"

Rita sighed again, "I won't make any excuses. I failed you, Lincoln. I put a lot of expectations on you and even when you surpass them I don't give you enough credit or support when you really need it."

Lincoln frowned, he got off his bed and approached his mom, "Is this about Dad calling me a Life-Ruiner last year?"

Rita looked at the floor in shame, "Yes. And...I am ashamed I didn't put my foot down then, or even apologized after all was said and done."

"Why did dad even say that to me? Lynn's the one who pointed out she felt better from hearing you all get criticism, does he just hate me compared to her?"

Yeah, for a guy who grandstands about how bad parental favortism is, he seems to keep favoring the kid he named after himself.

Rita shook her head, "No! At least I HOPE not...It's just one day your father woke up and realized he's in his forties and still far away from his lifelong dream of having his own restaurant. So I encouraged him to take a chance and start pursuing it...and maybe that was a mistake since suddenly I had a TWELTH child who mainly cared about his restaurant and putting it before his own children. Taking any and all slights against it far too personally."

Lincoln frowned "...so what you're saying is I should excuse dad for venting his frustrations at me and feel sympathy for him since he's going through a mid-life crisis?"

Rita shook her head, "I'm not saying that. I'm not excusing him either, I'm just hoping this helps you understand your father because I don't want you to hate him...or me. You've been pretty cold to us lately and I honestly blame myself."

"Mom, I don't want to hate dad, you, or any of my sisters. I love you all, I just...don't want to get involved too much with you all right now. I want to be me, not the one boy in a family with ten girls."

"...I think I understand. I love you too Lincoln, we all do. I really am sorry things have gotten to the point where you just want to be alone."

"It feels like I'm constantly told I'm wrong for just wanting time to myself. Is that really such a terrible thing to want?"

"No. There's nothing wrong with wanting that, everyone needs time to themselves. One more thing...are you getting taller, Lincoln?"

"Huh?" Lincoln quickly looked down at himself, "Huh. I guess I didn't really notice."

Rita gave him a hug, "We might need to get new clothes for you then, call it an early thirteenth birthday gift. Have a good day, Lincoln, I love you."

Lincoln hugged her back, "I love you too, mom."

Rita let him go and left his room, shutting the door behind her, she walked downstairs and wiped up her eyes, "...my little boy is growing up and I nearly missed it. What kind of mother am I?"

Just then, Rita heard some honking noises outside, she opened the front door to see Leni in a new convertible, "Hey mom! Look what Jeffrey bought me!"