It is a great thing to grow up knowing you are loved.
It is also a great thing to grow up and know that there are people in the world that would do anything for you.
I am a lucky lady to be able to call this beautiful woman, Mom.
I could not list the sacrifices Mom has made for me, my sister, and brother because as a new mom I am learning that there are so many things that you put aside for your children. I have learned that even though there are things that she gave up for us that she will never hold it against us.
My mom has always worked hard to help provide for us, and expected us to work hard as well. I appreciate the work ethic my parents have taught me. Even now she works full time and goes to school full time.
Even through our sometimes rocky teen years she always tried to let us make our own decisions and have our own minds. This could be frustrating when all I wanted to know was what my parents thought I should do, but it was also comforting to know that my mom trusted me to make the right choice.
My mom has always encouraged us to be accepting of others and open to new ideas. A prime example of her accepting nature is how quickly she accepted Luke into the family. (He’s a weird one, you guys have all seen his table manners and his centaur bike right?) But really all joking aside, Mom has always made it a point to learn things about different peoples cultures and religions and to show respect to other peoples ways of life. I appreciate the example she has set for us. I am grateful that I was shown as a child that all people are good regardless of political affiliations, sexual orientation, religious preferences or skin color among other things.
I know I got my sarcastic attitude from my dad (Thanks, Daddy), and I am pretty sure I got my ability to laugh at myself from my mom. Along with this ability Mom taught me that being silly is a good thing. (I think I prove this by being more than willing to shove myself into a cupboard and post pictures of it here).
Over the years we have made lists of funny words she has made up in the middle of conversations, teased her endlessly about her habit of passing the phone off to other people for no reason and her tendency to walk off and forget about whatever she started cooking. And over the years she has continued to shower us all with hugs and kisses, words of encouragement and understanding, and love, lots and lots of love.
Through becoming a mom I feel like I am learning more and more about my mom. There is so much that I can look back on and see clearly now. Those friends I had that she didn’t approve of…she was right, she wasn’t being over-protective…she was being smart, and the hugs weren’t just for me they were for her too. I know I am a good mom because of the example my Mommy set for me.
There is so much to say about her, yet there are not enough words to say it all. I’m so proud of my Mom and all she has done. I am so proud to say that I came from her.
