To My Mother

 

I am the age that you were when you had a two-year-old little girl and you were two months away from having your second child (me).  You had been married right at four years.  I don't know what feelings, joys, or hardships you were going through at the time.  If you were anything like I am now, and I know that you probably were, you would have laughed when you could, cried when you wish you didn't care so much, and gotten frustrated at things that weren't going the way you had planned. 

 

You were, and still are, such a beautiful woman.  You are full of love and you always, always make your family your number one priority.  You worked nights when you had to, and when you did, you would bring home McDonald's pancakes and leave them on the table for us to eat when we woke up.  You crocheted us blankets and you spent extra time making us plates of food in the shapes of faces, just for fun.  You took us to swimming lessons, and gymnastics class.  You were, and still are, at our every game, and you were always a room mother when you could (including the very last one you went on this week).  You packed us treats and games for our family trips, and now I'm doing the same.

 

 

 

I love the things that I'm discovering about me, that are just like you.  It's funny, isn't it?  You and I used to butt heads, and argue, and try to figure out our places with each other.  Ultimately, and obviously, you were my mother, who was preparing a way for me to become myself.  You taught me to crochet, and now you're teaching me to sew.  You always know where to tell me to look in the grocery store when I can't find a particular item.  I know that I can call or text you at any time of the day and you'll be there to answer.  I go to you when someone is sick or hurt.  I have no idea how I'll know all the motherly things that you know.



 

You are known as "Super Mom" because you have anything and everything that one might need, at any given time.  You keep score at all of Kollin's ball games, unofficially, and you can always tell someone the score when they ask.  You are constantly creating things for us, and for others.  This includes beautiful cookies, sports necklaces, and fancy scarves.  You share your love, every chance you get.



 

You and I, we're not that different.  A chip off the old block, as they say.

 

You are my hero.  You survived us.  You taught me what sun "beans" are, you planned the best birthday parties, and you sang to us.  You rocked us even when we were too old, and you ran your mommy-fingers through our hair, over, and over, and over.  And when I didn't want you to stop, you never did.  You taught us to pray and to be believers in God.  You showed us how to be faithful and stand by your family, even when your heart may want to flee.

 

I am proud of you, and proud that you are my mother.  Only two others can say that about you -- and they are two people that I am very happy to share you with.

 

And not to mention, you are the world's best grandma!  You have that touch.

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you.