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.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Wow, a great tribute to a terrific mom.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Camilla, what an amazing story. You are a testament to your Mom's wonderful care, a caring, thoughtful person for sure.

[Anna and Achilles]

Lots of tissues!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, I knew you were special...this comment just sealed the deal for me. Your mom and you are both lucky....you have a terrific mom and she has a wonderful daughter. What a moving tribute.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Give your Mom an extra big hug. She sounds incredible. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

I think I've used a box of tissues this afternoon.  LIke many, Mother and I had a stormy relationship at times.  She grew up and lived her entire life is a very small town, one that I could not wait to leave.  I always felt we were very different (it took a long time to realize that we really were not) but no matter what else was going on, she was always there for me.  We became much closer after my son was born in 1991.  He was her only grandchild and the light of her life.  Mother died in 2005 after battling diabetes, CHF and being approx. 80% blind the last 10 years of her life.  She died at home surrounded by family just like she wanted.  Not long after, I received a big promotion at work and had no idea how I was going to live up to the new expectations.  Frankly, for the first time in my life, I began to doubt my abilities.  One night, I dreamed Mother and I were in an airport and I lost her.  She couldn't see and I ran around the airport calling her.  Finally, I decided to search the plane and there she was sitting calmly in her seat.  I was telling her everywhere I had looked and asked where she had been.  She looked up at me and said that she had asked a flight attendant for help.  She then reminded me that all I had to do was the same thing.  Calm down, ask for help and everything would be OK.  After that, I got my bearings on the new job, asked for help when I needed it and everything did turn out fine.   That was the first and last time that I dreamed of Mother.  But, I still feel that she's looking out for me. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I have goosebumps after reading your dream...amazing, it is true, our mother's will always be there for us even when they are physically gone.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is a great story. Of course we all have important "pieces" of our parents within us: )

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cyndi, Thank you for sharing another wonderful story. I am so glad that dream helped you with your new job and I do believe your mom was looking out for you.

[Carol and Banjo]

Happy Mother's Day Laurie.....and Happy Mother's Day Laurie Mom (you raised a wonderful daughter!!!).

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Carol. I hope you had a wonderful day, too!!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Wow, there are all so wonderful, loving and touching stories.

I'm an only child and mom has always been very pampering and caring. She was always up for any kind of fun activity we would do together. Movies, shopping, a bike ride, whatever. I remember when I was a kid she took me skiing, even though she did not ski herself. She would always go up the hill on the chairlift with me and then walk the hill down after me. Years later she told me she felt bad about "sending me" on a huge slope full of bumps and that she was scared when she saw me become an ant-size as I skied down the hill.

She even supported me when I wanted to go to the USA for an internship. But it really broke her heart when I told her I'm going to marry a guy who was her age. When I brought Bill to Slovakia few months before we were supposed to get married, my parents refused to meet him. I still went ahead and got married and my mom did not talk to me for about 2 years. Dad was the only one who would pick up the phone when I called. Fortunately, the next time me and my DH came to visit, my parents were sort of okay, and accepted that I'm married and probably never coming back to Slovakia. We started to get back to our old relationship with my mom, as much as it was possible long distance. She would go shopping for me back in Europe and would then take a picture of the shoes she bought and email it to me. We never talked about the past, since our family has never been too open with feelings. We just moved on.

My dad suddenly passed last summer, so my mom is now all by herself. I mean, she still has her mom, my grandma, a sister, and dad's siblings that live in the same town, but other than that, she is on her own. I do feel bad about it. After my dad's funeral, I was able to talk her into flying back with me to the US. She stayed with us for almost 2 months and I truly believe it was healing for her. I was also happy to be able to show her my life now, where I live, what I do, etc.

It is hard to be an only child. It's even harder when you are across the globe from your mom. I don't know what I'm going to do when she gets older. But for now, I'm happy she is healthy and active, and that we have a great relationship again.

Thank you, mom, for all you have done for me. I love you. Happy Mother's day to you and all the great moms out there.