Belated Mother's Day Shoutout

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan 

Some mothers are doctors, others are chefs. Some moms are police officers, and some moms are event coordinators. Some moms are therapists, and others are teachers. My mother does all these. If I am hurt or sick, she always has the right antidote. My mom has never cooked anything that is short of amazing. Whether it's a sandwich or a my favorite “More Casserole,” she knows how to mix the ingredients with just the right amount of love to make it so yummy. She is the ultimate referree for quarreling children, and always laid down the law for mouthy teenagers. My mom can get everyone to school on time, plan a vaction for a million different schedules, and balance a daycare, Sunday school class, and household. When I am sad or confused or need a little perspective, my mom is the person to go to to tell me when I need to apologize to someone, break up with a bad boyfriend, or just tell me that she is proud of me and that everything will be okay. She taught me to respect others, work hard for the things you want, to always soak a stain before washing it dry, and that family is the most important thing in this life.

I am a lucky girl and I fully recognize this. I was fortunate enough to have a mom that was able to be at home growing up. I don't appreciate this more than I do now that I am grown. It wasn't always easy and money was always tight, but nothing could replace the solid presence she had at home. Dinner was always made and each family member present if possible on weeknights. Some of my fondest memories are of the crazy conversations and silly banter that happened over the food my mom prepared in between cleaning up after the daycare, doing the laundry, and running grocery store errands. If I ever got sick at school, she could be there to swoop me up in 15 mins flat. Without every asking for thanks, she would spend her days driving us from one friend's house to another, to practices and games, to doctor's appointments and church activities, leaving her with very little time for herself. She was often buried under loads of laundry for six people but always had everything cleaned, hung, or folded before you even noticed it was missing. She endured sleepless nights due to loud sleepovers and often was the one to clean up the mess the next day. And she did all this so that we could have happy and comfortable childhoods. Not to say that she spoiled us. My mother made it a crucial point of our day to make our beds and clean our rooms and to do our chores before playing.

Despite what my ramblings about my mom's managing of the household or the raising of us kids sounds like, she was never a maid. She did all of the things out of pure love and the desire to serve her family. Her job often went unthanked, underappreciated, and all too often demaded of her. But regardless, without any complaint, she did those mundane things every day with purpose and sense of duty. Not only did she work hard to keep everything in order, but she made sure to nurture us with her values and core beliefs everyday. My mom always makes sure the we know how much she loves God and how much she loves us.

I would be lying if I said that I always saw the woman who raised me in this light. There were years when we didn't see eye to eye, particularly in my junior/ high school days. Its hard to see at that age the daily sacrifices a parent makes and all the love they have for you. I really honestly thought that all she wanted to do was make my life miserable. I couldn't see then that when she was concerned with who I spent my time with, what outfits I wore out, what movies I watched and what music I listened to, she was really just trying her best to help me become to best person I could be by making the right choices. Even when the rules didn't make sense and I coudn't see what dragging me to church every Sunday would do, I see now that the happiness and peace I feel in my life and very person I am today, is largely in part due to my mom.

This Mother's day, I did not have the opportunity to spend the day with her. She was away in Japan visiting her father in the ICU and trying to take the burden of his care off my aunt and uncle. Because of the time difference and her schedule for taking care of Ojiichan, I wasn't able to get in touch with her to talk to her and to let her know how much I appreciate and love her for all she's done for me. I hope she knows how much I look to her as an example, and how much I respect her and hope to make her proud. I guess I'll have to tell her when she gets back. Come to think of it, I should tell her anytime I see her or talk to her. If I am ever half the mother she is to me, I think my future kids would be doing pretty well. I love you Mom! Happy Belated Mother's Day!