I thought it to be fitting to have my own mother be this month's highlight. This picture makes me smile. It was taken at Sally's wedding last July with all her grandkids.
Oh boy... where to even start when it comes to my mom. I guess I can start at the begining. My mom married my dad at 17 and had me by the time she was 18. Both her and my dad were very young parents, let alone a young married couple. Both went their seperate ways when I was 5 and I don't ever really remember them being together. (maybe that's for the best) Growing up with my mom was what you would call, an adventure. What's funny about who she was then and who she is now, is that they are pretty much the same person. My mom is positive, outgoing, carasmatic, energetic, silly, playful, honest and funny. Growing up, though.... I didn't realize how important those traits were. My mom made mistakes along the way and we had countless fights about her lifestyle and personal choices. It couldn't have been easy getting in trouble from your 8 year old. Don't get me wrong, my mom, although made some interesting choices in men, dating, and how she spent she free time, was a great mother. When I say great, I mean it. She never put me down, she never turned her back on me,or belittled me. She thought my sister and I hung the moon. Growing up I dealt with some personal issues of my own and in dealing with them, my mom was my biggest cheerleader. She supported me in everything I ever had interest in. She is the whole reason I love soccer. She helped me to feel better about myself when I felt like no one in the world gave me a secong look. I dealt with weight issues all growing up and I never ever heard my mom say a word about it. She always told me how beautiful I was. In watching my mom growing up, I learned alot and it's because of her, that I am who I am today. She doesn't judge me or tell me how I need to do things. She trusts me. I never really appreciated how much she did for me growing up until I became a mom myself. Besides the late night feedings, stress, no sleep and hard days as a mom, my mom was a single mom at age 24 with a 5 and 1 year old. Granted that was her choice, but she held to it and provided for us and took care of us. I can't imagine that being me right now. I couldn't have done it like her. Out on my own with two kids to support and at the same time still growing up too. Like I said, at the time, I really struggled with our life situations and it took me several years to see through those hard times for what they were: life lessons. We really grew up together. As funny as it might sound, some of our arguments went both ways like a teen and mother would do..... "was that really the best choice?" "is this guy you are dating a good one?" I have learned so much from my mom because of her life and by her example. In alot of ways, we are so much alike and it's easy for us to spend extended periods of time together. It's like we are on the same page in alot of things and I come to her often for problem solving advice. I love my mom more than I ever thought I could. At times I resented her and was confused by her. She made me question alot of things at a young age, but in high sight, it helped me more that she will ever know. It made me appreciate my faith and my own personal choices. My mom is an amazing women and I feel like for the first time in her life, she is happy. Happy with her life situation, happy with her choice in spouse, and most of all happy with who she has become. With out my mom.... I am lost. She sees right through me and knows when to help. She even can hear what I am feeling through our phone conversations. I would be so lucky to be anything like my dear momma. She works hard, but plays hard too. How many grandma's do you know that own and ride their own motorcycle? She takes care of her body and is truly an inspiration to me to take care of myself so that I can run half marathons when I am her age! To top it all off, my mom is the BEST Grandma. My kids adore her. She loves them and cares for them. She sees all of their good qualities and truly takes great interest in them. Even though she lives out of state, she takes the time to come and see her grandkids and spend quality time with them. To put in lightly: they are spoiled. I know my mom sacraficed alot for me and in doing so taught me to look beyond the first immpressions of others. I love you mom, and always will. You are my inspiration!
