Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching, and I can’t help but think about how amazingly lucky I am to have a mom like mine. I can’t be with her this weekend, since I committed to dog sitting for a friend before knowing that this Sunday is Mother’s Day, but I can tell her that I think she is awesome. I started thinking about it, and realized there are so many things that make my mom awesome.
my mom, with my sister in the background
Here are 7 Reasons My Mom is Awesome
My Mom is Generous
Hello, gifting a down payment? Sending cooking magazines and fun treats to me every chance she gets? Taking me out to get pedicures with her, celebrating with me, buying me all kinds of cheese, she is just so generous. Her love languages are gifts and time spent together. She likes nothing better than to dork around with me in the kitchen, which just so happens to be one of my favorite things, too.
My Mom is Funny
Sometimes unintentionally, like when she thought I was having happy hour with loggers. Sometimes intentionally, with a well-told story that gets the group (whichever group she happens to be in!) laughing. She is extroverted and speaks with her hands, so her stories get intensely animated sometimes. She can get us laughing until we cry.
My Mom Always Supports My Dating Decisions
Even when some parents wouldn’t, my mom has always said that no matter what, she loves me and wants me to be happy. Her unconditional support showed itself early in my life, making sure I had a sweet valentine, even when she knew I wasn’t getting attention from boys. It showed up when I introduced her to my (significantly) older boyfriend, with whom she is still close today. She stood up for me once when my southern relatives were pressuring me to get married so they could come visit. “You,” she said, while gesturing to the table, indicating plural (she doesn’t say y’all anymore, she’s been in the Northwest too long), “are all cordially invited to the Pacific Northwest, any time you choose. We do not need Kathleen to rush into anything.” Once, I mentioned, half jokingly, that I’d need to get married in order to get a food processor. There was a new, shiny, gorgeous one on my doorstep two days later. The message was clear: do not feel sad about being single. Your mommy will buy you a food processor.
My Mom is a Strong Person
I don’t mean you should call my mom if you need help moving things. No. She is a tiny woman, but has a huge presence. Her opinions are strong and plentiful, and she is not shy about expressing them. We have that in common. She is every bit of a southern woman, and it’s rather extraordinary since she moved to Olympia 28 years ago. She is always impeccably dressed and exceedingly well put together. The woman doesn’t even own jeans, people! And would die before she’d wear yoga pants out in public. She’s not too proud to admit when she could use a little extra help, though, so when someone that strong asks you to come be with her, you do not hesitate.
My Mom is a Fantastic Cook
Sometimes, my sister and I tease my mom because even though we are grown women, she cooks as if we are linebacker teenage boys just coming back from a tough practice. But then, we sit down and see all of our favorite foods. So, we eat like linebackers. Which I suppose just proves her right, doesn’t it? We did need all that food. She loves my future brother-in-law because that boy can eat. I think I’d say that cooking for others is one of her love languages too, which we also have in common.
My Mom Loves Deeply
My mom is like a mama lion. Once you’re in her pack, she’d protect you with her dying breath. She has so much love in her heart, and she shares everything she can with those around her. She’ll spend perfectly gorgeous summer days turning produce into homemade canned goods. Not because she is being a frugal homesteader, but because she wants to share the bounty of her surplus with as many people as she can. She even signed up for the gift exchange so that she could share canned goods with a blogger.
My Mom is My Role Model
My mom grew up in a small town in Tennessee. She did not have much money, nor many opportunities. So she studied her tail off, finished first in her class (while introducing the miniskirt to her hometown!) and went to college to be a nurse. She climbed her way up the corporate ladder, and, not too long ago, made the switch to be a federal employee. Now she’s a big deal. And she got there on her own. She is my role model for what women can do if they put their mind to it. She is a feminist to her very core, and she votes in every election. She let it be known even when I was a little girl playing with dolls that I could grow up and be whatever I wanted to be.
Even if she were someone else’s mom, and I’d met her through work or something, I would consider myself lucky to be her friend. I don’t know how many people can say that, and I just don’t think there’s a bouquet big enough to let her know how special she is.
So, thanks, Mom, for always being awesome. Thanks for leading by example and acting with integrity, love and generosity. Thanks for instilling in me a strong sense of self. Thanks for teaching me manners. Thanks for teaching me to be curious. Thanks for all the cooking magazines. Thanks for never letting me feel like I need a man to feel complete.
Happy Mother’s Day.
To all you moms out there, I think you’re pretty special, too. It takes a lot of patience to turn a ball of energy into a human. And even on your hardest days, I know you’re doing a great job. I hope you enjoy your homemade cards and burnt toast breakfast in bed on Sunday.
