Happy Mother's Day!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

When our kid's were little, Mother's Day was my favorite holiday.  I got to sleep in on both Saturday and Sunday on Mother's Day weekend (see how I extended the one day to two) and when you had early bird kids, that was the only gift I wanted. It didn't stop there, though, because when I did get up, I was spoiled the rest of the day. We did have one year when around 5 p.m. my husband declared he was done and the day was over. I guess the pressure got to him.  I told him it was good to know that a person could declare a day over on a whim and I would keep that in mind for future reference.

Most of you know, my mom has a very good sense of humor. I really think this is one of my favorite traits about her. She will be 86 this month and talking to her on the phone is always a unique experience because you never know what she is going to say.  This month we have had several talks about portion control.  Apparently, the whole world has singled her out as the person to give the smallest portion to when serving up any type of food.  The Amish are now on her list, because of a recent "mystery ride" trip she went on to an Amish house where the dessert was apple pie.  She started the story by telling me she was so full from her lunch and watched in horror as the Amish started cutting enormous slices of pie and she had no idea how she would ever eat such a big piece...but then ended the story with, "wouldn't you know it, I got the smallest slice of anyone."

My dad was a traveling salesman and left the house on Monday and came home on Thursday or Friday each week, which meant my mom did everything for my sisters and me. You don't really understand what that means until you grow up and have kids of your own. She took in ironing to make extra money and I can remember her with a 7-up bottle with a sprinkler cap, wetting the clothes down to iron. She babysat, too.  My mom bakes great cookies and her pecan/cinnamon rolls are to die for.  I talk to her almost every day on the phone, and she is my greatest audience. She wasn't perfect, but she did her best and that is all we can hope for in a mom. If you have a story you would like to share about your mom, I would love to hear one. Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the moms in the world.

[Margaret & Pebbles]

Beautiful Bonnie.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Bonnie, I can tell you take after your mother, because you never fail to leave sweet and thoughtful comments!!  Your mom sounds wonderful and I wish she could help my mother do e-mail :) Very nice story!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

While I do have a mother and she is still in my life I was not raised by her. When I was 2 my parents divorced and split the family in half. My brother and I, the two oldest at 3 & 2 years old went with Dad and my sister was 11 months  and soon to be born brother went with Mom.

Through the years we all spent Sunday's together. Every Sunday morning at 11:30 my mother would pull up in her car and honk the horn for us to come out...we had to be ready (and ready for church with our Sunday best) as Mass was noon in the next town. We attended church and then afterward would go to Grandma's house for the afternoon. Right after dinner my brother and I would be carted back to Dad's, no later than 7. It was certainly a different relationship than most.

When I turned 13, I did move in with my Mom, we had the type of friendship that most mother/daughters did not have. We were actually like girlfriends. All my friends loved her, most thought I was lucky and in truth, at times so did I. But there is something to be said about the traditional relations between parents and offspring...I realized that when I became a mother.

All that being said I also do have a wonderful, sweet, funny and caring mother who is now 75 that I would not trade for all the tea in China. I love her and I hope that when I am 75 my daughter feels the same about me.

In my parents Senior years they were together again...the last 13 years of my fathers life they spent together loving and caring for each other. My childhood fantasy came a little late for me but it was wonderful for them. He passed in August of 09.

In October 09  Daisy was born...Mom came the entire month of February to help us "raise" Daisy - she was the best dog sitter in the world. Daisy considers her "one of the pack" and I can't mention the name Grandma Karen without Daisy going to look for her even to this day.

[Camilla and Darwin]

What a great story. It's very interesting, all the roles our mothers have filled in our lives. 

[Margaret & Pebbles]

Great story Lisa.

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks for sharing your family "story".   Is there really such thing as the "traditional" family?   I love that they ended up caring for one another once again later on.   Even as an adult I'd secretly wished my parents would find their way back together...but it was not to be.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Carol, I had the same wish. Didn't happen for mine either.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, What an interesting family dynamic you had and I am glad you ended up having a friendship with your mother. How nice that they spent the last years of your father's life together. It just goes to show that all families can be different, but still love each other. Thank you for your story.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Laurie, I suspect that your childhood was filled with lots of laughter and much else, how many girls under one roof can anyone take after all, she had to resort to humor!

Happy Mother's Day to her, your sisters and you!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Lisa!! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, too!!

[Becka]

Thank you for sharing this, Laurie, and allowing us to hear such lovely stories about everyone's moms. I had shoulder surgery a few days ago and my mom has come all the way from Minnesota to take care of me for as long as I need. Even though she's the one who should be pampered today she has already made breakfast for me and taken care of the dog. She's the best mom.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Aren't moms terrific.