Without a doubt, mom knows this post is coming. She is one of my daily readers and has probably figured out that I do a birthday tribute to my family members on their birthday. That is probably why she told me a couple of nights ago that my family picture storing privileges would be revoked if I posted any embarrassing or inappropriate pictures of her on my blog. Actually, she was using my brother Matt as the reference but I got the picture loud and clear. I will post a few pictures that I think she would be OK with, but she didn't lay out any conditions regarding stories, did she?
I remember when I was in the church Mia-Maid program, our class (there were about 6 of us), learned the song, "You Needed Me" by Anne Murray. We sang this song to our mothers for Mother's Day and totally butchered it. Like a good mom, she never said anything negative about my singing but I can guarantee if that song was one of her favorites, it wasn't when we got done with it.
Birthdays - Mom always made my birthdays special. Like I have said before there weren't any relatives close by so it was always just the 4 of us celebrating special days. Mom was the best cake maker. I would go to school and come home to find the kitchen table decorated with balloons and streamers. There would sit my presents and a wonderful cake. I don't have the pictures in my possession to post, so I will leave that for another time but I remember a bunny, a cake that looked just like me, a doll with a dress, and a lady-bug. She was so talented and took extra care to make sure I alway got the perfect gift.
Since the tables reverse as you age and you start doing things for your parents that they did for you when you were young, I decided last year to start making my mom special cupcakes for her birthday every year. This is what I did for her last year (she loves sheep) and also what I did for her this year (she loves pansies).
The Stink Eye - no one has a better "you are in BIG trouble" look than my mom. I have tried and failed to duplicate it. It is scary. Her eyebrows stick straight up and she bites her tongue. While I don't have a picture to do it justice, I do have a photo of her grandkids that I doctored that illustrates how scared little kids are when they get the stink eye. Of course, she would never use this on them, they are perfect. Mom didn't see the humor in the picture like Matt and I did... go figure.
My kids adore their grandma. She visits at least once a week and they are all eager to get some time with her. She always has a special treat in her purse and it is no surprise that gum is their favorite! She doesn't have to spoil them with toys; they just enjoy her time, pure and simple. Dax calls her the "grandma with the Shadow" because her bird is named Shadow and that is how we know which grandma he is talking about.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY MOM
- Don’t sweat the small stuff
- How to cook
- Men are a pain in the ass ALL the time, you just don't cope with them as well during your period
- Keep your independence
- How to serve and care for others
- It’s OK to balance a career and a family
- How to tactfully say what is on your mind
- Work ethic
- Do not drive anywhere unfamiliar unless you have someone else with you to keep you company when you get lost
- If your kids are out of control, they are probably just getting sick
- Miracle Whip has an expiration date
- So does flour
- Blend your foundation around your chin and neck
- Always listen to the voice in your head that tells you to do something
- Keep all your receipts
- Oil of Olay is doctor recommended and the best
THINGS MY MOM AND I LOVE TO DO TOGETHER
- Talk
- Eat
- Vent
- Indulge
- Chat
- Pig Out
- Confide
- Taste test
- Confess
- Dine
You get my drift? Since we have excellent multi-tasking skills, we are able to do these “main” things while shopping, watching kids or TV, driving, etc.
This mother-daughter journey hasn’t always been smooth and there were many "Wonder Years", like I WONDER how we ever got through it. Had we always been close, maybe we would take each other for granted now. As it is, we love and cherish our time together and we don't take each other for granted...
Thanks mom for everything you have done for me and especially thanks for being patient with me until I finally grew up. I love you and I am so blessed to have a mom like you.
BFF,
Jeeju
