Always my Mother, Now my Friend
May 02 '04 (Updated May 09 '04)
The Bottom Line Mom had a tough job for many years taking care of the four of us, yet she always took care of us with love!
(Thanks much to Dionne25 for hosting this Mother's Day Write-off!)
Last year, I wrote a sort of tribute for my Dad on Father's DAY My Dad, the Best.
This year I'd like to do the same for my Mother. My Mom is wonderful!
Many of us have or have had an influential woman in our lives, whether it be our Mother, Step-Mother, Mother-in-Law or any lady. This essay is about my own Mother.
When we were growing up, my Mom had to take care of four of us. We were all born within 6 years of each other, so she definitely had her hands full. Dad was a salesman during those years and had to travel on business....frequently. During the 1960's, Mom was a Stay-At-Home-Mom, as many women were back then therefore she was the one who was with us most of the time. Mom was a a fairly strict disciplinarian, but with four children under the age of 6, anything else would have been total chaos. As children, my mother taught us so many things including how to be polite, use good manners, and to respect others. When my brother got to be of school age, about 6 years old, Mom went back to work part-time.
My Mom was very busy taking care of a home and the four of us; she always had chores to do and when we got older, we helped too, but Mom always helped make things fun for us!
Mom made homemade "playdoh" for us too out of salt. Once you were done playing with it you could shape it into whatever you wanted to and it hardened. Her birthday cakes always had pictures on them of castles with flags and other creative things. They were great. She also made a treat on Friday nights for us and wouldn't let us peek until the treats were done. They were rootbeer floats with vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
There were three of us sisters, and Mom sewed some outfits for her three girls...we always had at least one or two dresses that matched! I guess we looked pretty cute, although at the time I wasn't sure I wanted to look like my two little sisters! Mom even sewed "clothes" for our little troll dolls. Believe me, those were small, but Mom did it and made she it look easy!
We lived in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and in the wintertime wanted to go ice skating and skiing. Mom took us out to do both! She used to help us repeatedly fix the leather strap bindings on our skis and boots when they came off. She's been an avid skier for decades actually, until recent years when her knees started giving her trouble.
Always stressing education, my parents believed that education was all-important for all four of us kids. They cut corners and did without when necessary, so that we could have a good education, which is something that I have tried to do with my own two sons.
My mother is the kind of person that never sits still. Even if she is watching television, she is busy with something (I guess I've kind of inherited that trait too.) Mom taught me how to knit and crochet. The last time I crocheted anything was almost 20 years ago. Mom showed me how to crochet again when we were together at Easter this year.
We always stuck with our family traditions and my Mom, having learned from her Mother, made the traditional Hungarian food for Christmas and Easter. My Irish Dad wasn't always too keen on it, but us kids sure loved the dishes she made.
While living in Cleveland, we would regularly visit our Grandma (Mom's Mom) every Sunday. Grandma only lived 20 minutes away, but as a young girl, the ride seemed really long. Mom used to talk to her Mother on the phone everyday too and they had a very close relationship too.
Both of my parents have a terrific sense of humor. We like to get them laughing by teasing them about their dating days for example. They have told us funny stories of how they met, etc. and it's really fun to get them going with laughter. Likewise she stands up for herself and what she believes is right.
Travel has been one of my Mom's real passions. She worked in the travel business for many years and went to the top of her profession by taking classes and becoming certified. Mom and Dad have, over the years, taken so many trips that they have a world map with pins stuck in it showing the places they've been. Believe me, there are lots of pins in that map.
When she married my Dad, Mom had not quite finished college. After we were teens, Mom went back to college and not only finished her 4-year degree, but went on to complete her Master's.
When we're all together, usually over holidays, my Mom always wants us to stay in my parent's home, of course, but she really extends the hospitality spoiling us with wonderful meals and whatever else she can do for us. Like I said, she never sits still!
Nothing is more important to my parents than their family. Both of my parents have shown that to their children by living it every day. My parents have been married for 51 years and the way they treat each other and take care of one another is inspiring. I only hope I can live up to their example. My parents are also both strong in their faith and active in their local church. They have good relationships with their neighbors and a bunch of old and new friends too.
This essay hardly even does Mom justice, she is so much more than all the "facts" I have presented here. She loves her family and there is nothing she would not do for her family. That's the way its always been. Her family is her top priority. My Mom and I have a wonderful relationship. She gives me advice when I ask for it but she is never overbearing. When I had my sons, she told me how much fun I would have with my boys, because each age the child becomes is fun. She was right. She always has my best interest at heart.
Mom truly is: Always my Mother, now my Friend!
Thank you for being my Mom and Happy Mother's Day. I love you! Your #1 Daughter, Gail
(NOTE: I wrote another Mother's Day review in May of 2000. It was short, but sweet. If you'd like to check it out, the link is: Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers!)
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.