HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

“If at first, you don’t succeed, try doing it the way Mom told you to in the beginning.”

- Unknown

None of us likes to be told what to do! Growing up, how often did you hear “Clean your room,” “Brush your teeth,” and “Did you wash your hands?” If you are anything like me, you stopped listening. Moms have lots of good advice, but children and young adults often do not appreciate it.

As we get older, we have grown-up issues, and mom feels that she needs to guide us through them. Often, I resented those “suggestions” and did my own thing. But, many times, not listening came with some consequences. I begrudgingly discovered that not listening was a colossal mistake! If only I had considered her advice, I might not have had to deal with some difficult circumstances.

We think that we know more than our parents during our younger years. But then, as we get older, we begin to see their wisdom. My friends have shared that they often sound like their mothers when raising their children. So, good or bad, mom's influence tends to crawl into our thoughts and minds.

My mom and I did not always get along, and we did have some difficult times, but I am thankful that she was my mom and taught me many of the things I need to know today. My mom passed away in September of 2011, and I miss her. She was sick for the last two years of her life, and I was her primary caretaker. I am grateful for those years. We had the opportunity to talk and share about our lives. She talked about why certain things happened the way they did in my childhood, and it relieved many of the struggles that I was holding on to. Sharing our lives helped us grow closer, and some of my frustration with her dissipated. I learned to LISTEN, but that doesn’t mean I did everything she told me. Her words helped me to make some informed decisions.

The 8th is Mother’s Day; I encourage you to reach out and honor your mom.

LOVE YOU, MOM!