Life Preservers

The Best Mom in the World

May 8, 2010 at 4:19 am 1 comment

Here is a very short list of wonderful Mom things.

1. My mom packed our lunches every day for school. And she’d leave little notes on the napkin.

2. When we were kids, she would make us (well, me and my sister only) a special Christmas dress every year.

3. Sit down family dinner–every night.

4. Georgie Girl and Galway Bay and a gazillion other piano tunes. She’d play. I’d sit beside her and sing along.  

5. She tucked us in at night: prayers, a story, and a kiss with a “Sweet dreams” or “Off to Lily White’s party” or “Shuffle off to Buffalo” or “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!”

6. She taught me how to cook, clean, sew, and iron. Not that the student has gone on to do great things, but I can handle that stuff when I need to thanks to her.

7. Her presentation of “the birds and the bees” was straightforward and loving. (And extra points for poise because it began one quiet day while we were merrily making a puzzle in the living room, and I blurted out, “Hey Mom, what does f— mean?”) (And I didn’t use the dashes that time.)

8. She taught me to walk, to talk, to wipe my bottom, to eat my veggies, to draw, to write my name, to hit a softball, to play volleyball, to put on eye shadow, to pick out a fancy dress, to waltz, to play Perquackey, to drive a car.

9. She taught me the joy to be found in simple things and the fun to be had spur of the moment. 

10. She taught us to be honest and fair. And to take responsibility for our actions.

11. She taught us to be resilient, grounded non-wimps—but she also had a great big shoulder, an understanding heart, and unquestionable love when the tragedies of childhood broke me.

12. She is still there for me. 

I could go on for days with examples and memories, but I need to stop now to prepare the house and plan a meal for Mother’s Day tomorrow.

(How she did this sort of thing on a daily basis, I will never know.)

One day doesn’t seem anywhere near a fair trade for the most giving person I know. All I can say is that I am grateful. And I know I am blessed. And I know, in at least one thing in life, I am the luckiest person in the world.

Happy Mother’s Day to my very first and most significant life preserver.

What makes your mom the Best Mom in the World?

Entry filed under: Life Preservers. Tags: childhood, memories, mom, Mother's Day.