Mother’s Day Tribute – Things My Mom Did Right

Mom made me feel special.

When I was four years old, my big sister went to afternoon kindergarten, and my little brother took an afternoon nap. That meant I had Mom all to myself and she made that time very special. We had tea parties in the kitchen.

She would call my toy telephone from the kitchen – ring… ring. I would answer in the living room. When she invited me to come for tea, I had a big decision to make. Would I go alone leaving my baby dolls with my “Mother Law” or bundle them into my little buggy and bring them along?

Visiting my Mom as it we were two young moms, I felt I was one of Mom’s best friends not just one of the kids. I became a special friend to a special lady.

Mom was my best cheerleader.

Whenever life got me down, my mom was the one who told me I was doing a great job. Without encouraging vanity, she would praise my appearance, my mothering, my decorating, my hard work, and my accomplishments.

I treasure one of the last things Mom said to me before her death. I knew the end was near when she said I had turned out to be a good woman. It sounded like she was summing up the results of her hard work. She was proud of me.

Mom taught me to love writing.

Mom was a writer and obviously enjoyed every minute of it. She would read her work out loud sharing the love of a well turned phrase, a witty bit of dialogue, or a beautiful description. We especially loved the humorous pieces she wrote. Mom demonstrated the initiative that is essential for a freelance writer and the creativity that adds beauty to life.

Mom taught me to be a good mother.

These are just a few of the things Mom taught me by her example. I think the best thing she taught me was how to mother my own children. I’m sure I’ve made mistakes along the way as all moms do, but I tried to practice the good things I learned from Mom. I hope my kids will be able to look back and say their mom did a few things right.

What did your mom do right? What are you doing right as a parent?

Mother's Day

Every night
Every day
I become my mother
In a whole new way.

How are you becoming your mother or father?

Keep the Old

Vickie and Dave moved in next door when their youngest daughter, Randi, was 18 months old, exactly one week older than our Jane. When you are growing up, it just doesn’t get any better than having your best friend live right next door. The girls went through all kinds of milestones together: kindergarten, Brownies, going away to camp. They played basketball, coached by Randi’s dad, and swam on the local team for about seven years. They gave up swim team when they reached the age where they were expected to practice at 6:30 AM. At that point teenage love of sleep won out over athlete’s love of the sport.

As the years went on, the girls made more friends, developed different interests and were no longer inseparable. But they still had that special bond that you can only have with someone you have known all your life.

It seems like it was just a few years later that the girls were graduating from high school. There is a special section of the high school yearbook for which parents are invited to submit candid photos of their graduate with a parting wish or bit of wisdom as they leave high school. At the time the pictures were due, my mother who lived with us passed away. The picture was forgotten as I was taken up with all that surrounds the death of a parent.

I never gave the yearbook another thought until Jane came home, smiling and thanking me for the great entry. That’s when I saw what Vickie had done for both of our girls. Two generations of extraordinary friends enjoyed a beautiful thought! Yes that's the entry that appeared in the yearbook.

copyright © Dianne Morr

It Really Does Take a Village

Mother told me that you can’t improve circumstances for your children without improving the circumstances of the other children in the community. She took that to heart creating our parish school’s first library, arranging for a Vietnamese exchange student to teach French lessons to the girls in the neighborhood, and volunteering to direct plays after school.

My husband and I followed her example when our children were young, doing our part with Girl Scouts, Little League, religious education, and happily hosting our son’s garage band for years. Every chance I got, I encouraged all the young people to do what they loved and follow their dreams.

A reward came last Saturday when my son reported that he had connected with Steve the drummer, an old high school friend he hadn’t seen in years. Steve has become a successful businessman. He told my son that after completing his bachelor’s degree, he started a business based on an idea that had come to him at our home back in their old band days.

I couldn't wait to hear how the warm creative atmosphere of our home had so inspired this young man.

It seems that one day when they were sitting on the deck taking a break from music, Steve thought, “Boy, this deck could do with a power wash and seal.” His next thought was, “I’ll bet I could make money doing that!”

And now he does. Yes, it’s true. It does take a village. Glad to help.