Today is Mother’s Day, and I’m celebrating my Mother and thanking her for being the best manual on life anyone could hope for.
After fifty years, she’s still teaching me about life and motherhood.
This is what she’s taught me so far:
The best gift you can give your child is your time.
I was fortunate that my Mother sent me off to school each day and greeted me when I returned. But much more than that, she was interested in what was happening in my life and took the time to find out.
She was present.
No matter how busy she was, she made time to listen if I needed to talk.
If I wanted advice, she gave her opinion but encouraged me to make my own choices.
When I questioned or doubted my ability, she was the first to remind me of my strengths.
She was selfless with her time.
Being a mother is a privilege and a gift.
My Mother never told me motherhood was a privilege; she showed me it was.
She volunteered at school and church despite her other obligations.
She drove my friends and me to the movies, the mall, or wherever we needed to go.
She welcomed our friends to our home as if it were their own.
If someone needed a ride or help, she offered.
She did all these things effortlessly.
She never complained, and she always wore a smile.
She made being a mother look easy, even when I knew it wasn’t.
I thought all mothers did the things she did for me and my siblings. I would learn that wasn’t the case.
When I became a mother, I often reflected on my childhood and realized my Mom made everything look easy because she treated motherhood as a privilege and a gift.
Family is everything.
I was raised in a close-knit Italian family. My aunts, uncles, and grandparents were integral to our lives. My first cousins were like brothers and sisters.
We visited each other often and always looked forward to being together. The holidays were fun, loud events that lasted for hours and ended too soon.
We celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions together. My family and my Aunt’s family rented a summer home together for many years. Four adults and six kids in one house with one bathroom!
They were some of the best times of my life.
The women of my family were at the center of it all.
They were there for each other through thick and thin, no questions asked.
When I was going through my divorce years ago, my cousin, an attorney, made a point to be in court every time I had to be there. Despite his busy law practice, he took the time to show his love and support. That’s what my family did.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
The golden rule was not something I learned by being told. I knew it by watching my Mother (and father).
In addition to being a loving and supportive parent, my Mom demonstrated what it meant to be a caring and supportive friend, daughter, sister, and wife.
She taught me the importance of friendship.
She taught me to give to others.
Food drives or toy drives. A homecooked meal for a family that was experiencing a difficult time. Rides for an older person that needed one.
If there was a need, my Mother tried to fill it.
She gave from the heart and showed her love to neighbors and strangers alike.
She taught the golden rule by example.
Be grateful, gracious, and kind.
Like most children, I learned to say please and thank you as soon as I learned to speak. When I learned to write, my Mother showed me how to write a proper thank you note and taught me when to send one.
If a relative we hadn’t seen sent a gift, I called to thank them immediately.
At Christmas or on a birthday, if we received something we didn’t care for, we learned to smile, say thank you, and mean it!
My Mother was the most gracious person I knew.
Kind was an understatement. When I watch old Grace Kelly movies, I see my Mom.
She shared Kelly’s beauty and grace.
A mother’s love is unconditional. It helps you become who you were meant to be.
Dance classes, ice skating lessons, cheerleading practices, homework assistance. My Mother was there.
Helping to make costumes, offering hot chocolate, chauffeuring a car full of boisterous pre-teen girls, explaining algebra.
I never questioned my Mother’s love or commitment.
She was my biggest fan, encouraging me to reach for the stars and beyond.
When I was sick, she made me soup and told me to rest.
When I was worried, she gave me the confidence to persevere.
When I was sad, she hugged me and told me a story of when she felt the same.
She was gentle but strong, kind but confident. She laughed easily and worked diligently. She celebrated my victories and helped me through challenges.
She was my Mother, but she was my friend too.
She was the woman I hoped to become.
I met someone recently who was aware of some of the challenges I’ve faced. She asked where my strength came from.
The answer was easy.
I told her it came from a long line of strong women: grandmothers, aunts, and my amazing Mother.
For more than fifty years, I’ve had the privilege of being my Mother’s daughter. I’ve learned what it means to be the kind of Mother that can make a difference in their children’s life.
Thank you, Mom, for helping me become who I am today. I love you.
II. Master Your Monday - A mindful tip to help you start the week.
Why Soulful Sunday?
I began The Power of Change to explore the potential to transform your life in meaningful ways.
Being mindful of your life is the first step. It helps you focus on what’s important today and throughout the week.
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Thank you, Tracy, for such a beautiful tribute. You made being a mother easy because of your goodness, loving ,kind and generous nature. You are a wonderful mother and daughter!!! Mom