It Mother’s Day which is a good time to reflect on how amazing our moms really are. There are all kinds of mom and all kinds of tributes listing the sacrifices moms make for their children, so I am not going to repeat them for you here. Rather, I want to take a few minutes to thank my Mom for being the resilient woman she is so she could pave the way for me being who I am today.
Like most women back in the fifties, my mom married young. I doubt that college was even a consideration. She had three children over a six-year timeframe, so had her hands full. She and Dad divorced when I was in elementary school and she got a job as a secretary. Times were tough and often there was a fair amount of month left at the end of the money. We always had clothes to wear (mostly homemade – what I wouldn’t give for some of those today) and food to eat. She never complained and I don’t think we ever really knew how hard it was for her.
As we grew older, we weren’t always the most compliant kids; some would have said we were hell raisers, I’m sure. Fortunately, mom had laid a strong Christian foundation for us and even though we strayed off track for many years through our high school and young adult years, we still knew right from wrong. I’ve always said the best gift my parents gave me was they let me make my own mistakes.
As a parent, I later learned how hard that must have been for them to do. Boy did I make some big ones! I’d probably do it exactly the same if I had to do it all over again though. Once you learn that failing is the best way to success, it gets easier. She also taught me to find the silver lining in all situations, and that really makes all the difference.
My mom was a bit of a dreamer and wasn’t afraid to take a risk to get what she wanted. She was a health nut before being one was cool. It was her search for a better life that has caused me to want the same and I am so glad that she instilled in me the desire for more and the courage to go after it. Is it always easy? Almost never. Does it feel amazing when I get out of my way and do it anyway? Pretty much every time.
She’s still encouraging me to reach for my dreams and go after the things that mean something and she is still the first person I call when I have a joy or sorrow to share. I know that I am so very blessed to have her to call my friend and I am even more blessed that we can spend quality time together now that I have made the leap to be self-employed. Something I would have never had the courage to do without her cheering me on. Thanks, Mom, for everything, but mostly for believing in me as only a mother can. I hope you have a great day and that I can continue to learn and grow with you for years to come!
