From the Child I Was and The Adult that I Am

When I think of the word “mom,” I think of the person who supported me in my youth, who cheered me on at every softball and basketball game and track meet. I think of the person who taught me about values, how to care for and nurture others, and how to truly love unconditionally. I’ve always felt safe with my mom and knew that no matter what I did, I would always be loved.

She was—and is—one of those truly amazing moms. She spent an immeasurable amount of time with us because she was a stay-at-home mom. She’d wait for us in the driveway as we piled out of bus #3. We’d head to the house, telling her about our school day, and enter to sit down at our kitchen bar to milk and cookies.

I’m not kidding. This is WHO she was. She was also serious about our education, so right after snack time, we were sent off to finish our homework before we were allowed to play with the neighborhood children. She spent countless hours quizzing us on spelling words, math problems, and helping us prepare for tests.

One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mom laying me down on our kitchen bar, so my head would rest in the sink. She’d hold the back of my head so gently and wash my hair. To this day, I still remember the little window behind the sink, always with a soft breeze blowing through, and my mom’s tender loving way of washing my hair. I knew I was loved. What a gift that is.

When I think about the dedication she had to my brothers and me, I can’t help but think about the choice she made to be a stay-at-home mom. She chose to surround herself with little ones constantly nagging at her pant legs, asking for something to eat, begging to be played with, and engaging in never ending battles that she was forced to referee and break up. She didn’t get much time away from the family, to enjoy adult conversation or to work on her own personal goals. Instead, she chose us.

So, this Mother’s Day, I honor my mother and all of the other influential women in our lives who have been there for us. They have shown us how to be strong, how to get back up when we’ve been knocked down, how to love, and how to thrive. They’ve celebrated our accomplishments and held us tight when we didn’t think we’d make it. They are mothers, aunts, cousins, teachers. They are any and every woman you love.

This Mother’s Day, be courageous enough to share yourself with a special woman: your favorite stories, how they made you feel, your funny moments, or even the difficult times she helped you make it through. These important things you share with her today are sure to become her favorite memories of you.