This Mother’s Day weekend I spoke at a Mother’s Day Brunch in a neighboring community. My dear, little mother was able to go with me. I introduced her and told the ladies in the audience that I wanted to tell them about my mother. She didn’t know what I was going to say. At first she wondered but once I started sharing the following words she was a proud mother, sitting straight and tall and smiling with pride. Pride in me. Pride in a job well done. Here is what I shared. The words are not mine alone – I adapted them from a reading I found some time ago.
I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast. When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids' also. I had to sit at a nicely set table with the rest of my family and practice good manners and participate in pleasant conversation around the table.
My mother insisted on knowing where I was at all times. You'd think I was on a chain gang. She had to know who my friends were and where we were going. She insisted if I said I’d be gone for an hour that I’d be gone one hour or less--not one hour and one minute.
The worst is yet to come. I had to be in bed at a certain hour each night and up early the next morning. I couldn't sleep till noon like some of my friends. While they slept, my mother actually had the nerve to break the child-labor law. She made me work. I had to clean my room, do dishes, make my bed, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I really think she laid awake at night trying to think up things just to make me miserable.
She always insisted that I tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even if it killed me - and it nearly did.
By the time I was a teen-ager she was much wiser - and my life became even more unbearable. If I spent the night with a girlfriend, can you imagine she checked on me to see if I were really there? I never had the chance to elope to Mexico. That is, if I'd had a boyfriend to elope with. I forgot to mention, while some kids were dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old-fashioned mother refused to let me date until the age of 15 or 16. Fifteen, if I dated only with a group of friends from church and we went to a church youth group function. My mother was a complete failure as a mother. I actually graduated from high school and attained some higher education. I never committed a crime or was arrested. And who do I have to blame for the terrible way I turned out? You're right, my mean mother. Look at the things I missed. I never got to march in a protest parade, take part in a riot and a million and one other things that other people did.
She made me grow up to become a God-fearing, educated, honest adult. With this background, I tried to raise my two children. So, I stand a little taller today and I am filled with pride when I say that my children used to call me mean, too. Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.
And that’s why I am who I am today.
Thanks, Mom – I love you!
adapted from Bobbie Pingaro (1967)
Adrienne I could have written this about my mother! Exactly the same and I so very grateful today for her wisdom!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet picture of you mother!
Happy Mother's Day friend!
bee blessed
mary
A very nice tribute to your Mother! Happy Mother's day to you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day, Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo!!
What a lovely photo! Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of your Mother, Adrienne.
ReplyDeleteI miss my Mother. Our mothers will always be in our hearts.
Happy Mother's Day to you and to all the ladies on your blog ~
I had a mean mom too! I hope that your day is special!
ReplyDeleteWe all know how much you love your dear little Mother Adrienne! I'm sure you made her day special as she makes yours:>) Happy Mothers Day (a little late) to you both.
ReplyDeleteAh, this made me laugh and cry at the same time. I have one of those mean mothers, too.
ReplyDeleteYour mother is so cute - and so is mine. I wish they could meet each other.
Your Mother's Day sounds wonderful. Your sweetheart is a sweetheart.♥