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That’s a picture of my mom holding me not long after she gave birth to me. I can’t believe she got into that tiny dress so soon after childbirth. She told me that she traded in her two-seater sports car for the VW Bug you see in the picture so that she’d have room to cart me around. I guess VW Bugs were the 60s answer to today’s soccer moms’ minivans.
My mom has a milestone birthday this week and I’m not there to celebrate with her so I thought I would dedicate today’s blog post to sharing just a few of the reasons why she's so swell.
- She taught me the difference between asking, “Can I have a cookie?” and “May I have a cookie?” The answer to both questions is yes, but only the second one will land you with an actual cookie. It has to do with ability (being able to open the cookie jar and grab a cookie) vs. permission (making sure your mom will let you have another cookie so close to supper time). I think if she were ever to get a tattoo, it would be of the Oxford comma.
- She instilled a love of reading in me. My sister and I were encouraged to read anything and everything and outings to the library were a regular occurrence growing up.
- Although she’s allergic to eggs, she would still make scrambled eggs for us despite the fact that her eyes would swell up and get itchy from the egg fumes coming up from the pan. On a related note, she’s never had a chocolate chip cookie in her entire life due to the whole egg allergy thing. Wow. I can’t quite imagine life without cookies. Can you?
- She ignored the fact that we fed the cat vegetables under the table. That cat would even eat lima beans which was a good thing because lima beans are disgusting. Hmm. Maybe she never knew about the whole lima bean eating cat thing. Oops. I guess she does now.
- She put up with me during my teenage years. Honestly, how do parents survive teenage girls?
- She taught me to be independent and self-confident. She instilled important values in me including valuing diversity, standing up to intolerance and social responsibility for those who are less fortunate.
- She's got a great sense of humor.
- She supports me in anything I want to do, even crazy things like live on a sailboat.
What's your favorite memory growing up? Did you have swell mom or other swell female figure who was there for you when you were growing up? What made her swell?
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You got your cat to eat lima beans? Wow.
ReplyDeleteWe don't use eggs in our cookies but a powdered fake egg substitute. You should find some and make your mother some cookies.
Glad the storm didn't hit you as expected. I think they were way off with their predictions for Matthew. Way off...
We were lucky with Matthew here in southern Florida, but it's had really devastating impacts elsewhere.
DeleteHey, I can't see the photo. Hate when that happens. But anyhow, i was recently discussing with my mom how she taught me that men like to have their sandwich spreads applied all the way to the edge of the bread. It's a lesson I learned well. She says she still agrees with that. Oh, and reading and grammar and spelling. All of that, too. I'm not sure which lessons I appreciate more. My husband has never had a bad sandwich, if it was one I made. I cannot vouch for the ones he made himself.
ReplyDeleteI reinserted the photo - hopefully that works for people now. Your mom sounds like she has some fantastic tips. I love the sandwich spread one :-)
DeleteI had a great mom too, but she should have left dad when we were little. He was a tyrant. My best memory of growing up was leaving home at 16. Finally freedom and no more worrying about getting beat up. I didn't have a good childhood.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you weren't adversely impacted by Matthew.
Have a fabulous day.
I'm so sorry to hear about your childhood growing up with your father. So glad you were able to get out of there at 16.
DeleteI am so glad you are safe. My mother was O.K., but she had many health issues, unfortunately. I enjoyed your post very much, thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by Linda. That's a shame that your mother had many health issues.
DeleteGood to hear you're safe and didn't get the full force of Matthew!
ReplyDeleteWe were so lucky that Matthew shifted to the east.
DeleteMy mom gave up a successful business, friends and her home to raise 4 kids on $5.35 an hour (as a nurse) and $300 in child support away from the daily influence of a mentally abusive alcoholic. I think she's pretty swell too! And a very happy birthday to yours.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Stephanie @ SV CAMBRIA
Your mom sounds incredibly swell and courageous!
DeleteMy mum has a milestone birthday next week, in this case 90! She is, of course, swell and I hope she likes all the treats we have planned.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your mother as well :-)
DeleteThat is such a nice, attentive and thankful blog post, Ellen. Happy birthday to you mom! I recognize many of your points when it comes to my mom. She encouraged library visits and supported me (or at least did not prevent me) to live a life less ordinary. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear that your mom is supportive of your life less ordinary :-)
DeleteMom has changed over the years. She seems so much happier now that the brood has grown up. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
It's a lot of work to raise kids, so I can see why she's enjoying herself with the brood all grown up.
DeleteSo glad the hurricane missed you! I love lima beans, so I would have taken all of yours gladly. My parents, were the best people ever, and I really miss them both. Mom was my best friend, and Dad could always be counted on. They were people of compassion, integrity, faith, and love. It just so happens that I have a blog post about them in process, but since we are on the road, I'm not sure when I will get the chance to publish it. I included my photo of them driving to Alaska in 1949.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Mom.
I'm really looking forward to reading your blog post about your parents and seeing that photo :-)
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