She stayed at home with 5 kids while Dad worked. Looking back, we were good kids. Grant it, we tried killing eachother at times. A few hits, scratches, name calling, and well, a few wooden spoons by mom across our rears for misbehaving (WHO US? lol) (she had stock at Costco), we had an amazing mom that molded us to be who we ALL are today.
My father worked hard and provided for our family. Our home consisted of not only love, but sacrifices, rules, chores, dinner like clockwork, bedtime before dark, and a home that was consist ant. Who has this today? My mom sewed, cooked, cleaned, took care of others while sometimes forgetting about herself. She taught us that when you have kids, they are your world and sometimes YOU (the mother) gets put aside so your kids can have more. My ma and pa have been married for 49 years. This alone is enough said in today's world.
As a single mommy, I thank god everyday for my mother. At 29 years old, I got pregnant. Raised in a catholic family, unmarried, wooh...Was not sure this would go over well! Grant it, I finished my masters degree and was teaching, but I was clueless as to what motherhood really meant. I had moved away from home with whom I thought was the love of my life (I was wrong) and found out I was pregnant one week before her
63rd birthday.
How do I tell her I am prego!!!?
I remember thinking "How will I tell her!!", "She is gonna kill me". As I sat in the walgreens in Galveston, Texas, looking at this positive pregnancy test, I thought, who would I call first? This was just one day I could not pick up the phone and call mom and say "how is your day ma?" She would sense it in my voice as she is my best friend and can read me better then anyone in this world!!! As I sit on it for a few days, I remember praying to my Nana. Mom's mom...(Miss you nana!) saying "Please don't be disappointed but please help me tell ma!" I am 29 years old!!! I later talked with my ma and she took the words out of my mouth and guessed before I could even tell her. She said she would be there within the week to "support" me in whatever I decided to do. Mom was in Galveston a week later. Little did I know she would be there for 3 weeks. I had not lived with Mom and Dad since before college. Wow, this was a eye opener. This lady was hillarious. She was my MOM! This was a time in my life I bonded with ma like no other day in my life.
Needless to say, I got the support I needed. This was true unconditional love. Need I say I truly did not know the meaning of unconditional love until this point in my life. We laughed, we cried, she told me stories of her and Dad's marriage, failures and good times, hope for the future; she took my hand and said "I love you, no matter what you do. You will be the best mother. I know this". As she said this, she handed me my Nana's wedding ring and said she wanted me to have this. Nana would be with me and tell me what to do when I questioned things. Boy was she right, Nana has been here looking down and she tells me alright! How lucky was I! I felt like the world around me was brighter all because I had nana with me now. We had the best time when she was there. As I was still away from family, these were the days I was totally counting my blessings. I needed my family. Most of all, I was so lucky to have Ma. She would be there for me. She would help make me be the Ma she is and was to us as kids.
Mom visited me and ended up convincing me to move home. I am so thankful I did!
I had Emilee in 2004. My entire family was there with me (interesting). Looking back at pictures Emilee, now 6, asks me why I was crying when I had her. I always tell her she was a gift from god no money or person could ever buy for me. The tears were happiness. To have my parents at my side with my family I was able to believe I too would be a good mom like my mom (and my sisters too!)...
Mom is still and will always my best friend. We have alot in common aside from BINGO (lol). She makes me laugh, especially when I listen to 49 years of marriage stories. She can read me like a book, tells me who to date and who to dump, she is my best friend. She has empowered me teaching me FAMILY, honesty, strength, independence, faith, unconditional love,
laughter, success, and family values. This mother's day I count my blessings. Many of my friends have lost their mom's. I know it can't be easy. There is not one day that goes by I am not thankful for all the love she has given me, and most of all Emilee. I would not be the mom I am today without my Mom.
So all of you out there that may not appreciate your blessings, take time to think about what matters the most. Family....these are days you will NEVER get back.
To the most amazing mother and Nana.
My coffee friend, my kick in the rear when it needs kicking, my nanny, my chef, cleaner, do it all when I can't do it MOM, my italian toast mother, my STAR member of the "broken hearts club", and my reason I keep believing. You are my hero. You are my best friend, and YOU are the BEST NANA to my beautiful daughter. We love you!! May god bless us with many more years of your love, good health and most of all kisses!!! Happy Moder's day!
We love you!
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