Happy Birthday to My Mother 2020 Edition
Posted By Kathleen David on March 5, 2020
Today is my mother’s birthday and I am so very happy that I can call her and talk to her.
This year is going to be a big year of changes for my parents. Last year they came to some decisions and this year they are making those happen in as timely a fashion as they can. I am over here cheering them on.
There is so much I have learned from her over the years.
She is my second informed opinion and a number of times the first call when it comes to medical questions. She was the person who told me to get Peter to the hospital NOW when he was having his stroke. She has helped me understand what medical people are telling me. When Caroline was a baby I would worry that she was sick. I would call my mom and she asked if Peter thought he was sick if the answer was No then I was told to listen to Peter which worked because when Caroline got her first real fever I knew that she was really sick.
I would not be able to make the things I make if not for my mother. She taught me how to use a sewing machine and sew on a button along with repairing tears and putting on knee and elbow patches when needed. A lot of my summer clothing was made by her. She would let me pick the fabric with some serious guidance and then make me clothing that I lived in. She repaired beloved stuffed animals so that we could continue to love them. When I wanted to learn embroidery, it was a fad at the time in the 70s, she helped me learn the stitches and let me embroider my clothing.
I get a warm feeling every time I cook a meal and it tastes the way that Mom made it. She made sure we had the basics down before we left the house. She is a gourmet cook who continues to add to her repertoire. I have friends who still say her mac & cheese is the bet. We had crepes, beef bourguignon, fondue, and chicken something. I can remember sitting with her watching Julia Child on PBS and her trying some of those recipes. She has a very beat up copies of the two volume set Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the Joy of Cooking. She is also an amazing baker as many know from her cookies at Christmas along with her breads and cinnamon rolls.
I didn’t get her green thumb but I do know how to take care of plants and start a garden from scratch. Every year at the beach we feast on home grown tomatoes which taste the way tomatoes should. Her garden has been on the Druid Hills Spring tour more than once.
She has supported all her children over the years in different ways and we all appreciate it. She knows us very well and treats us as individuals which she has been doing since we were born. There was no cookie-cutter parenting in our house. And I think that is one of the many reasons that I have such a good relationship with my brothers and sister. She made sure we knew we were individual with our own likes and dislikes and it was OK not to like what someone else liked this included some foods but we always had to try it before dismissing it.
She and my father are my shining example of how a marriage works. They presented a united front as parents. They were our parents not our best friends and had our best interests at heart. If Mom said No that was that. They expressed their love for each other in so many ways. I learned from them that marriage is a partnership and there is give and take throughout it. That supporting your spouse and helping them live their best lives is what you do. It is a marathon not a sprint and they are still running hand in hand.
A long time ago I remember being at a convention with my brothers and sister and we were in a large group of friends just sitting around and talking about everything under the sun. The topic go onto parents and a number of people did not have the best relationship with their and were venting about it. The circle got to me and I said, “I got nothing to say. I get along great with my parents.” Sean, Sheila, and Patrick nodded and the conversation went on to another topic.
And I believe that is why I have the confidence that I have in myself and my worth because my parents believed in me. I was taught that women could do any job a man did. Women were equal to men and should not think less of themselves or their opinions. My mother showed me that with her life and what she still does.
Happy Birthday Mom! Hope the day brings you lots of lovely memories.
I am grateful that my mother is the person she is.
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