My mom and I are very close. It wasn't always that way, however. We had our moments, especially during my teenage years. Thankfully I matured and she mellowed. (Hi, Mom!) An ex-boyfriend once told me, after he moved back to the East Coast, that he knew I wouldn't have moved with him if he'd asked because it would've meant moving away from my mom. He was right. Fortunately for me, I live about 2 miles from her now and see her a great deal.
Reflecting on my growing up years with the benefit of time and some faded memories blurring what might have been some of the worst of times, I can truly say I was a very fortunate kid. I had my parents together for all but one of the years I lived at home. They divorced when I was in my mid-20's, but growing up I always knew the love they had for me was abundant and unconditional and still is.
Being a second child I didn't feel the stress and pressures a first child typically has. My parents seemed to have let me run free and explore who I was. Perhaps they did that with my sister, but the 6 years age difference was enough that we really didn't spend a whole lot of time together while we were growing up. I was the pesky little sister. Except there was the time she took me along with her and her friends (because I had bugged her so much about it) doorbell ditching and she forgot (unintentionally, yeah right) to tell me I was supposed to run after I rang the bell. Yeah. That was fun. Not. But it's fun to look back on it now and laugh til our sides hurt.
My mom was a working mom. She was never the stay-at-home-and-bake-cookies-after-school type of mom. And that was ok. I grew up seeing a strong woman could have a career and a family, too. I saw her pull up her boot straps and do what had to be done to provide for us girls when my folks separated when I was 11. I liked being a latch-key kid because it meant I got to watch TV and ignore my homework after I came home from school. I'm sure she didn't like that, though. Mom working and providing a stable home and life for us while her marriage was on hold is inspiring to me now. Now. I don't think I thought much of it back then, I'm sad to say. I was 11. What can I say except now I have a glimpse of how incredibly hard it must've been for her only because I have a family and a home now, too, and my progression of age has offered me some perspective. I can't imagine doing this alone. I.Can.Not.Imagine.
As a mother myself now I can appreciate so much more of what my mom did for me in my growing up years. Helping support the household financially, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, keeping us kids clean and happy and managing to somehow hold a marriage together. It really showed me a lot about who she is and what she's made of. After the divorce and dusting herself off once again and moving on with her life and not letting the world or being single again beat her down shows me again how strong she is and what she's still made of. I'm in awe of her daily and the extrmemely busy life she's carved out for herself and continues to lead.
I can only hope I do half as awesome job for Cub.
I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!
No comments:
Post a Comment