In honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to put some random thoughts about my mom into words…
My mom was the neighborhood mom. When we were young, my sisters and I, and all of our friends, played at our house because my mom was the mother they all wanted to have. She was fun without being overly permissive, she spent time with us without being smothering, you could tell her anything and she was never judgmental. Many of our friends also called her Mom.
My mom was a born teacher. She was a substitute teacher when we were little, moved into Special Education, which was her special love. Her last job was teaching for the county, going to homes in the East Coachella Valley, working with the families of special needs children.
My mom was a born student. She loved to learn. After years of extension courses, she earned her Masters in Special Education when she was in her 50s. She was always inquisitive and interested in other people. She had a special talent for learning foreign languages. I always thought this was because she was never worried if people laughed at her if she misspoke. She would plunge ahead, and eventually get it right.
My mom, who would have been 83 last week, was a feminist almost before there was such a word. She came from a family that included an aunt who was a Lutheran minister, a mother who was a pianist and teacher, a sister who was a singer and actress, and a father who encouraged women to have self-respect (and a career!).
My mom loved to sing and dance. She used music in her teaching, recording children’s music to play for her students. She discovered Jazzercise when she was in her sixties and became an enthusiastic participant.
My mom had the best laugh! When she let it loose, you could hear it for miles (well, almost)! Of course, as a teen I was embarrassed by such an open expression of happiness, but I sure wish I could hear it today.
My mom loved animals. We always had cats and dogs when I was a kid, plus a few hamsters, guinea pigs, and mice. She allowed me to keep the puppy that I sneaked home from Knott’s Berry Farm. When we moved to a ranch when I was a teenager, we added horses and goats to the menagerie.
My mom was a great grandma. She had three grandchildren, my two boys, Nathan and David, and my sister’s daughter, Brynne. She loved them, took care of them, and was there when they needed her. She helped me so much during my tough times, by making sure that my children always came first.
My mom was an amazing woman. Smart, funny, kind, caring. She took care of us all, me, my two sisters, my dad, our kids, our friends, her “special families.” When she died, in 1992, my sister Lisa and I put together a memorial service for her. Even knowing how she was loved, we were still shocked and gratified to see that the entire church was filled to standing room only with the many people who’s lives she had touched.
I know, in my random thoughts here, that I missed many special moments. I wrote a similar post last year. I hope that my friends and family who read this will add their own memories. Happy Mother’s Day, to my mom and to all.
