Lessons from mom

Everyone, well most everyone, thinks their mom is pretty great! Small children depend on their mothers for everything, and mom is their everything. As kids get older and become more independent they view their moms in a variety of ways, from over-protective to embarrassing to dumb because mom knows nothing. I went through these stages of growing up in a very mild, watered-down version. I usually got along well with mom. She was very over protective-to a fault at time, but she had a sheltered life and did not know what she was missing out on or how to change with the times. But I survived and lived to tell! Self taught is a big part of my life.

Mom worked hard. As a farm wife she worked every bit as hard as my dad did. What she accomplished in a day would put most people to shame in this day and age. When she went to bed at the end of each day she was tired from hard work. She was a very smart and talented woman who could figure out and do what she put her mind to. Her husband and family came first.

My mom taught me the basis of life like cooking, cleaning, baking, how to work hard, be responsible, treat others with kindness and put those you love first. I thought most of her meals were delicious, except for tuna noodle casserole made with doritos and when she hid liver- making it look like minute steak in gravy. Or the organ meats she tried to hid in a variety of ways!
I have nothing but fond, happy memories of my mom, except for two times...the time she called me a "nincompoop" for accidentally stepping on the hay rope and dumping a fork full of bales as they went up the side of the barn to the hay mow (it still hurt my feelings) and the time she chewed me out for saying "crap". As in "this is a bunch of crap." Yes that's what I said, oh boy was I chewed out and I was afraid to use the word for a long, long time!)

I used to have my moments of embarrassment because my parents were older when they had me and the fact that I was an "opps baby". Yes I feel gypped because I lost my parents while in my 30s and 40s while my siblings were in the 50s and 60s. They got all that extra time. But over the years,  especially when I because pregnant with my daughter when my son was just over six months old, I've learned to appreciate these surprises in life.  I'm now proud of being a "opps!" I'd read some place a response to the people who would ask if my baby was planned and I used it all throughout my pregnancy with her, "yes, GOD planned it!" I know that is what my parents felt and thought. That what I was for my parents and that is what my daughter (and both boys) are for me. (People are just plain rude some times.)

But I had so many advantages that my siblings missed out on with coming along later in my parents lives. Yes by siblings told me, and still do, every chance they can that I was spoiled. Yes I got to do things that they did not because by the time I came along my parents had been at the parenting gig for 16+ years. I had to be drug along to things because a) no one was at home to babysit me or b) no one wanted to stay home and babysit me. I spent many, many evenings at the homes of my parents friends read, watching tv or just plain bored out of my mind. This taught me patience and how to occupy my time. I also had to learn a variety of farm duties and house hold tasks because no one else was around to help or do it. I've witnessed the good with the bad. Yes I was spoiled because I got to spend time, do things and got things the rest of my siblings did not. But the best part was that I was spoiled in the aspect that I had mom and dad all to myself! I have so very, very many fun, happy memories of both mom and dad. I am truely blessed.

April Fools day was one of my moms favorite days of the year. She played her tricks all in fun, no one was hurt or embarrassed. I can only imagine she was having great fun in heaven yesterday. And today she is enjoying the day she entered this world. Her birthday was always a big celebration for her and all those around her. I'm sure strawberries and  ice cream are part of the menu. So to my mom on this her special day, she knows I miss her every day, but thank you for being my mom, for all you taught me, for the discipline, the life lessons, teaching me how to be independent, for spending time with me but most of all the unconditional love.

Positive of the day: Letting go and putting it in Gods hands. Despite those who bring nothing but negative to my life and all those around them,  I am done letting you rain on my day. Go pee in someone else's cereal! This is a day of celebration! I think strawberries are on the menu!