Mother

 

Mother’s Day is just about upon us and it gives me reason to think about my mother in a more appreciative way.  I am amongst the fortunate people who can still pick up the phone and talk to my mom.  And she still sounds young and vibrant to me which usually belies a life of eighty four years.

She is one of those individuals who has defied every rule of healthy eating in the book.  My mother doesn’t go for the lean cuts of meat.  No siree, nothing quite as tasty to her as the white band of fat around the roast.  And she loves salt meat, heavy cream, and takes three packs of sweetener in her tea.  At least she replaced the sugar  but just why she did that I do not know.I maintain that whatever she is doing works for her and I have nothing negative to say about her food choices.

Nor can I criticize her child rearing practices.  She did a wonderful job with my two siblings and me.  We never ever had a doubt that we were the most important people in her life.  And she was generous to a fault not only to us but to other family members.  Mom couldn’t hold on to money.  It would burn a hole in her pocket . So before it ignited she would pass it on to someone else.

I never heard my mother say a negative word about any of her children.  In fact we were praised so much that to this day it is difficult for us to accept criticism; difficult but not impossible.  We tend to judge ourselves much more critically than anyone else.  I believe that came from our upbringing and I wish I could figure out just how that quality to examine ourselves was instilled in our psyche.

She cultivated also a sense of humour in the three of us.  When we are together there is great laughter and Mom laughs louder than anyone else.  And she laughs most at herself.  When we get into a frenzy of mirth it is comical to watch.  Tears run down our cheeks . Our faces twist into contortions of agony and we clutch our bellies to relieve the pain of our writhing muscles.

Usually our get togethers involve copious amounts of food.  And she is known for her culinary skills.  It is basic meat and potatoes fare not French cuisine though the taste is as pleasing as you would find anywhere.  Her baking is the best.  In her younger days she started her own bakery which was very successful . Home made bread, pastries and cookies were stacked on seven foot high racks  and numbered in the hundreds.  With the birth of our brother she decided to give that up.

My mother has been a profound influence in my life.  Sometimes I have protested against her views as all children do but I have children and grandchildren of my own now and I am thankful that she was such a wonderful role model for me.

I love you, Mom.