Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom! When I was growing up, she passed along the important life lessons that all good mothers do and threw in some equally important things that were all her own invention. Here is a sampling:

-Respect your elders. There’s a lot to learn from their wisdom and history.
-You should be thankful that you have sisters and be nice to them.
-Khaki goes with everything except more khaki.
-Stand up straight. Tall girls who slouch only look taller.
-Eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of milk.
-If you’ve eaten your vegetables and drunk your milk, you deserve a dessert.
-Don’t be late. For anything. Ever.
-It doesn’t matter how intelligent you are if you sound stupid. Watch your grammar.
-Leftover pie is a breakfast food.
-Take lots of pictures but try not to be in any yourself. I had to go through years of digital photographs to find this one of all of us on a trip to Mt. Vernon a few years back.

Around the time I got married, Mom was diagnosed with a sampler menu of autoimmune disorders. She had been having mystifying symptoms for years, but having names for the enemies made them seem scarier to me. Though I had moved out of the house then, this was when some of her most important teaching began. To look at my mom, you would

never

guess the array of physical bothers she deals with daily. This is due to an awe-inspiring dedication to the power of positive thinking. She is a very strong woman anyway, but anytime she’s not feeling so strong, she fakes it. In pretending for others that everything is all right, she convinces herself as well and as a result she’s remarkably healthy for someone who has been battling illness for over 20 years. I’m astonished at her resiliency and humbled by it as well.

Now as a grandma, Mom gets to teach fun things.
-Homemade jam and popsicles are superior to store-bought.
-Fresh blueberries should be eaten all year long.
-Vacations are fun. They’re even better when you share them with people you love.
-Going to a bookstore is the best kind of shopping.
-Grandpa is full of beans.

I love you, Mom. Have a terrific day.