All Manner of Pressing Issues

I can’t think of a better way to open my blog than with a “tribute” to my Mom on her birthday.

Tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. She is the best mother on earth. Over the years she has become my best friend. She is the one who tells me the truth even when the truth hurts a little (”Toosie, you need to cut just a few inches off your hair. I’m not saying you have to whack it off. Just cut a few inches.”) She encourages me to work hard, but to be realistic and not overload myself. She has taught me “that without remedy must be without regard” and to always wear colors in my color pallet. We also wear our pajamas two nights and then they go in the dirty clothes. Sheets get changed once a week and if Mom had things her way, the bathroom sink would be cleaned every single day. We really try to buy gas when there is 1/4 of a tank left, but we usually only remember to buy gas when the light comes on. We also wear Merle Norman make-up just because it’s the right thing to do. She has also imparted to me the importance of wearing lipstick. This may be one of the most important lessons a mother can teach a daughter. As she says, she has “never seen an old barn that couldn’t use a little paint.” Mom also taught me that no polish is better than chipped polish. She always laid down with me until I fell asleep because I was afraid of the dark. I try to get Richard to let me dance on his feet like she used to, but for some reason that 20 year difference doesn’t feel so hot on his feet. He won’t play the airplane game with me either. I have learned that there is nothing wrong with your family fending for themselves for dinner or ordering take-out when things are just too hectic to cook a meal. From her example, I learned that everything isn’t always perfect, but we do the best we can. My mom taught me how to be a good hostess. She also taught me that “company is like dirty laundry–It stinks after three days.” Mom taught me to appreciate card games and board games and thank goodness I am married to someone who has an equal appreciation for games. Mom also taught me the importance of being compassionate, but not enabling people. Because of her, I know that people can rise above their circumstances and break cycles. I know that friendships are treasures because of her. She taught me that once you tell something to once person it’s not a secret anymore. She taught me to give within my means and to be frugal. Because of my mom, I know that “sometimes we have more money than we have time” and there is no shame in picking something up at Kroger to take to a potluck if need be. I love to go on walks and be outside because of Mom. Because of her, I like to eat outside occasionally and like to be on the water. I’ll always remember the time just the two of us took off and went camping together at Arlie Moore on Lake DeGray. Mom (and Dad) also taught me to value my education and to take it very seriously. Mom even “home-schooled” my brother, Al, and me during the summers. I moaned and groaned every day about that, but looking back, she did the right thing. Also as part of our “summer skills” (My stomach just churned a little bit as I typed “summer skills.” ) Mom also tried to use “big words” randomly to increase our vocabularies. Her adolescent children usually just made fun of her. She also taught us good table manners. I won’t mention the time she put thumbtacks all along the edge of the table so we would quit leaning on it. Mom made us read our Bibles each day. She was wise to make that a habit early on for us. I was never a reader growing up, but I know my love of reading in adulthood has come from my Mom. My mom also limited the amount of T.V. we could watch and what a huge service she did for us by doing that. Because of her, I have never been a T.V. watcher. I am better for it. Mom also limited our video game time to 30 minutes/day. I wonder if Al still sets the kitchen timer when he plays? Mom has shown me that laughter is good medicine. Sometimes we get so tickled we’re crying and we cannot stop laughing. That’s the best feeling. Mom taught me not to worry about what others think—only to worry about what God thinks. Mom gets excited with me over new clothes or a new store I’ve found.Every time I got out of the car somewhere, she always told me to “Think before you speak.” “THINK, Sissy, you’ve GOT to THINK.” I heard that a time or two. She and Dad taught us the value of hard work. We had our chores and they were responsibilities we had that we didn’t expect anything in return for. It was just part of what we did because we lived in the house, too. There was a point in my life that I swore up and down she and Dad had Al and me so we could clean the house, but now I understand that they were instilling a strong work ethic in us. They also knew that we didn’t need to be idle (hence the TO Do list on the kitchen table on days she had school and we didn’t—Al and I would actually avoid going into the kitchen for as long as possible because we knew The List awaited). Mom taught me to only say no when it matters. Because of my mom, my brother and I both enjoy working in the yard and traveling. “Go while you can.” Mom was always there to help with homework or projects and she also made Al tight-roll my jeans and help me with my math. My mom is the one that made sure our wedding day was perfect and that I had everything I wanted. She attended to every detail–all the way until my bridal portraits that were taken 6 weeks after our wedding date! I could go on forever. There isn’t a Mom in the world like mine! She’s the B E S T! As I am getting older, I am turning into my mother. I always heard people say that and wondered, but I wonder no more. It is happening and it’s a GOOD thing! I love you, Mom!