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| Mom, Paul, Me, Dad at 209 Pilgrim Ave. |
The mother-daughter relationship can be a tough one at times. With my strong will for independence, I found myself to sometimes be a challenging daughter. Mom put up with that, and mom gave me many, many gifts throughout my life. This is a list of many of Mom's gifts that I'm grateful for.
Special celebrations
Mom made the time to celebrate my special events in life with lots of loving attention and care. She bought me special clothes and gifts, decorated the house, made special foods, and invited kind guests to my birthdays, graduations, wedding celebration, and more. I remember vividly how Mom made little origami paper candy dishes for my birthday parties. She always made me a valentine-shaped cake too. Some of my favorite gifts were new clothes, a new bike, and art supplies. Mom never let a special event go by without a proper celebration.
Singing
My mom sang all the time. She sang in the house, in the car, and in the yard. I loved her singing and would sing along with her.
Stories
Mom was a storyteller. She told me countless stories about her life and the lives of others. I remember her story about her middle name. Her mom was going to give her a different middle name, and then her mom had a dream to name her "Virginia" for a middle name. Mom liked that story. She told me the story about the burn on her arm, her brother's chickens, the day Cousin Billy took the chicken on the train, St. Peter's High School experiences, times with Papa Dan, meeting Dad and so many more. Mom was always telling stories.
Baking and cooking
Mom was always a great baker and cook. She made a healthy, delicious meal and dessert every night. She baked delicious sweets for holidays and she also cooked lots of meals in preparation for family vacations. We always had delicious food in our home.
Beautiful clothes
Mom loved fashion and she bought us beautiful clothes. When I see pictures of myself as a little girl, I always notice the beautiful clothes that mom dressed us in.
Imagination
Mom was a dreamer. She shared her dreams with me often.
Shopping
Mom loved to shop. I shopped often with her and when we shopped, particularly in downtown Worcester, we would stop about every five minutes to talk to one of mom's friends from some time in her life. I met many of mom's friends, relatives, and acquaintances during those shopping trips. After we met and talked with the people, she would tell me how she knew them and a little bit about their lives.
Caring for others
Mom was always caring for others. She loved to bake or buy gifts for people. One of her best pieces of advice was that the best way to feel better is to do something for someone else.
Letting people live their own lives
Mom was very accepting of the many ways people lived, though at times she wished for more for herself, she rarely broke up with people because of the choices they made.
Spirited fun
Mom mostly had a skip in her step--she loved dad and that was often clear in the way she spoke with him, spent time with him, and acted around him.
Babies and children
Mom loved babies and children. She was so proud that my sister and I became teachers. She may have chosen teaching too if she had the chance.
Wisdom
Mom shared many wise words with me. One of my favorite is her advice to "Enjoy the stage you're in as you'll never be there again." I follow that advice all the time.
I was fortunate to have a loving mother who spent most of her days caring for me and my five siblings. She loved her very large family, friends, and my dad deeply, and that was clear via her persistent care for others. This Mother's Day, I'm grateful for the awesome foundation of living and loving that mom gave me.
I was also fortunate to have a loving mother-in-law who modeled for me so many ways to create a loving, caring home--the kind of place that welcomes others in special ways. I carry on many of my mother-in-law's traditions to this day.
All of our mothers are unique and different--each of them bring us special gifts. As mothers we are the same. I'm glad there's a day to celebrate the special gifts that moms give. Onward.
