On this mothers day I have a whole lotta moms to be thankful for in my life. In addition to my own mom, who we so recently lost, and my wonderful mother-in-law who loved me like a daughter, I am so lucky to have had a lot of women in my life that touched and guided my path.
There’s the kindergarten teacher who was kind and gentle to a shy, scared, little girl. There’s the second grade teacher that understood how it was to be an outcast. There’s the seventh grade English teacher who always saw something special in me and my work. (Years later, I got to repay the kindness when I had her “difficult” grandson in kindergarten and she wrote me the most beautiful thank you letter.) There was the next door neighbor that taught me all the things I needed to know about cleaning, gardening, “putting up vegetables” to freeze, yardwork, caring for a dog, and even teaching me to drive stick on her Mustang GT. (Every one of these skills made new married life so much easier for me,) There was the high school Spanish teacher who was the big sis I never had. There was the college resident hall director that became my maid of honor in my wedding and is still my closest friend to run to today. (And lately I run to her a lot – and after 40 years she’s STILL there for me.) There was MY fourth grade teacher that mentored me in my first years of teaching and was responsible for setting my basic teaching philosophies. There was the principal who never let me quit, no matter how much I cried, when I returned to work 6 weeks after having my daughter, suffering with post-partum depression. To these women, my heroes, I give thanks for all the ways they have touched my life and contributed to who I am today.
I, myself, have been a mom for 30 years now. My girls always tell me I’m a good mom. (a little “out there” as they like to say, and they do enjoy some good laughs over me, but I know deep down they really feel I’ve done right by them) My girls make me proud and are beautiful people today because of all the moms I’ve had in my life to show me how it’s done.
This is the first Mother’s Day without my own mom. There are no words to say how much I’ve missed her this past year. The tailspin that I am still maneuvering through due to her passing is testament to the profound influence she has had on my life. I talked to my mom everyday. She was included in every aspect of my life and my children’s life. She was the best grandma there ever was to my girls.
In this last phase of my life I may find myself a grandma someday, and because of my mom, I’ll know just how to do that, too. Thank you, mom, for everything. On this day, I miss you and love you.
And so, as another Mother’s Day goes by, I give gratitude to God for all the moms He has graced my life with, I want to wish all my reader moms a most Happy Mother’s Day, and…I have written.
love you mom!!! <3