I wanted to know more about Mom - her stories, thoughts, and feelings - that didn’t happen. However, she gave me two priceless gifts - not the ones I was looking for as a child and young adult, but ones that are serving me well now.
Janice, what you lovingly shared of your mother’s story reminds me somewhat of the heartfelt things Hillary Clinton told about the challenges her own mother faced as a child. If of interest:
Any of us that have children know how hard it is to be the mom our children need. Your mom’s gifts were priceless. I am 100% sure my child was in some way short changed. Not because I didn’t try my hardest to give him all the emotional and physical love I could give, but like your mom she was human with her own life taking place. I guess what you were given as gifts I can only hope that someday he will know how hard I tried my best.
Janice, you and I were both lucky to have moms that modeled resilience and growth. You've captured her in a way that I could say, "I know that woman." We are blessed for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Love that story! Mothers! Their gifts to us keep on giving well into our own mature years... and we are never beyond the need of mothering no matter our age!
Such a lovely post, Janice. I, too, wished the relationship with my Mom had been closer. But I recognize that her generation was raised with different views about child rearing. She also suffered as a small child from circumstances beyond her control and that shaped the adult she became.
Despite a lack of closeness and involvement in my adolescence, she did the best she could. Later, as grandparents, she and my Dad were terrific! But, grandparents have the easy part, while parents have the full time job and all the exhaustion that goes with it. Additionally, grandparents have some hard-earned wisdom that only time and experiences can teach.
It's important to recognize the gifts they gave us even if it takes a while to recognize them.
You would all like the book I just read —“Where Courage Began: Velma’s Story” by G.L.Gooding. Velma is the author’s mother who was born in the same time period as your Mom & my grandmother. They all had similar strengths & experiences.
The book is listed as historical fiction but very closely based on truth. The author says it would be a biography if he had written down all the stories she told him in her 100+ years of life.
I wanted to know more about Mom - her stories, thoughts, and feelings - that didn’t happen. However, she gave me two priceless gifts - not the ones I was looking for as a child and young adult, but ones that are serving me well now.
I love these brief family histories, Janice. I am glad you include them from time to time. Each one lets me know you better.
Janice, what you lovingly shared of your mother’s story reminds me somewhat of the heartfelt things Hillary Clinton told about the challenges her own mother faced as a child. If of interest:
https://youtu.be/PfRKsxxE-kc?si=gscD91URqYyyp-Sn
Any of us that have children know how hard it is to be the mom our children need. Your mom’s gifts were priceless. I am 100% sure my child was in some way short changed. Not because I didn’t try my hardest to give him all the emotional and physical love I could give, but like your mom she was human with her own life taking place. I guess what you were given as gifts I can only hope that someday he will know how hard I tried my best.
Janice, you and I were both lucky to have moms that modeled resilience and growth. You've captured her in a way that I could say, "I know that woman." We are blessed for sure. Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely piece. Your Mom sounds like an amazing woman. It must have been so hard to learn to drive later in life. You definitely take after her💖
Love that story! Mothers! Their gifts to us keep on giving well into our own mature years... and we are never beyond the need of mothering no matter our age!
Such a lovely post, Janice. I, too, wished the relationship with my Mom had been closer. But I recognize that her generation was raised with different views about child rearing. She also suffered as a small child from circumstances beyond her control and that shaped the adult she became.
Despite a lack of closeness and involvement in my adolescence, she did the best she could. Later, as grandparents, she and my Dad were terrific! But, grandparents have the easy part, while parents have the full time job and all the exhaustion that goes with it. Additionally, grandparents have some hard-earned wisdom that only time and experiences can teach.
It's important to recognize the gifts they gave us even if it takes a while to recognize them.
That is so amazing that your Mom gave you that book and took you to a personal development workshop!
Lovely, Janice! What an inspiration your Mom was!
You would all like the book I just read —“Where Courage Began: Velma’s Story” by G.L.Gooding. Velma is the author’s mother who was born in the same time period as your Mom & my grandmother. They all had similar strengths & experiences.
The book is listed as historical fiction but very closely based on truth. The author says it would be a biography if he had written down all the stories she told him in her 100+ years of life.
I’m now eagerly beginning to read the sequel.
Thank you!
Sorry technical glitch!! her but I loved them both dearly. And they knew how to love! Good memories!
I love this story Janice, my Nanna on my mums side was a lot like this and some of these attributes were passed on to