This is my mom, Patricia. Isn't she beautiful?
When I was a little girl, I didn't think she was beautiful. I didn't think she was ugly. She was just...you know...my mom. And then one day, I just realized: "My mom is beautiful."
It was a really awesome realization because my whole life I had been told I looked just like my mother. So voila! Obviously now I was beautiful, too. :)
Every time I think about the family I was born into, I am grateful for them, and for my mom especially. I hit the jackpot of families, I promise. My brother and I were loved and wanted and taught and disciplined. We were expected to grow up and be independent and competent, functioning members of society. Those expectations were a gift.
My mom's example was a gift as well. She was my Girl Scout leader for years. Now that I am an adult and a Cubmaster, I realize how much of a sacrifice that must have been, especially since she was freaking awesome. My standards for my kids' scouting experiences are high indeed because their experiences must measure up to what my mom provided for me. It's not often we get that. And when we do, I am thankful for my mom all over again.
Mom was the homeroom mom--over and over again. She encouraged me to be smart, and taught me that I could solve problems and do whatever I needed to do. She taught me that I had immense value besides what other people thought of me. She taught me that family matters. She taught me that the past matters. She taught me that the future matters.
When I was 16, she put me on a plane to the crumbling USSR for three weeks, in the days when there was no internet or texting or cheap foreign phone calls, so that I could have a life experience.
When I was a few days shy of 18, she left me at college three hours away, so that I could have a life experience. And she sent me chocolate while I was away. Hello? True love!!!
When I was 20, she watched me get married very young and start having babies, because she had taught me to lead my own life and to have my own life experiences...even though I'm pretty sure she thought I had lost my every-lovin' mind. And she celebrated with us.
Now if you know me or Mom, you probably know that sometimes our relationship can be strained. We have some vastly differing viewpoints on life, and we have different types of personalities. Sometimes little memes go around Facebook that say something like, "If I turn out to be half the mother my own mom was, I'll be lucky." I usually roll my eyes, something I started perfecting before I became a teenager and which I haven't given up yet, and sniff to myself, "Whatever! Who wants to live in a perfectly organized and clean house with two reasonably well-behaved children, a successful home business, and a husband who works hard and adores you?"
Yeah, do you see my problem here?
High standards.
Because my mom is awesome. When she was my whole world, she was strong and confident and loving and farsighted enough to sacrifice what she may have needed or wanted personally for what I would need in the future. See? Awesome!
So...because eye-rolling at other people's expense usually leads to an eye-opening dose of humility is a true story: If I turn out to be half the mother my own mom was, my kids and I will be lucky indeed.
I love you, Mom. I wish my tween and teen-aged brain hadn't wasted so much time not appreciating you enough. You are my example every day, and I'm so thankful for that.
This is my mom, Patricia. Isn't she beautiful!?
