My mom taught me alot

United States
March 2, 2007 5:08am CST
My mother passed away 5 months ago. It was a shock to all of us remaining children. My mom was so full of life. At the age of 74, she was still a pool shark, beating almost everybody who challenged her. She had a long and lovong relationship with my father and then 13 years after he passed away, she met a man and they fell in love. They were going to get married, but alas, her time had come. Her fiance is a wonderful man and they loved each other deeply. They were able to overcome their age difference, the same way my mom and dad did. My dad was 25 years older than mom and her fiance was 23 years younger than her. I use to tease her and say one day you will find somebody your own age. She told me not to bet on it. My mother taught me so much in my life, even during those years when I thought I knew it all. I miss her, I miss her so much. She taught me patience and understanding. She showed me what it means to love your children unconditionally. She gave me some big lessons on consequences and discipline. She taught me the importance of respecting others, especially my elders and that because I live in a free country, those who fought and still defend us deserve our gratitude and respect.She was a true believer in freedom isn't free. When I look back on my life, I realize how poor we were, but my mother made sure we didn't feel poor. We never had the new clothes and I went to school in hand me downs and shoes with holes in them. But I always had a roof over my head and food on my table. One of my fondest memories is of a coat she made me, it was winter and I had outgrown mine. We didnt have money for a new one, but she had some material and she made me a beautiful red coat with fake leopard skin print fur inside. I loved that coat, not because it was high fashion, but because my mother cared enough to sit down and design it and make it just for me. She instilled a love for country,family and music in us all. There were times that I thought she was just out to make my life miserable, but now realize she was protecting and teaching me to understand that you earn things and privileges. My mother had a passion for her flower gardens. They were beautiful! As I think about them, I know that her greatest garden was not the flower beds she tended to so lovingly, her greatest garden are the lives she touched, her children who she tended to so lovingly, trying to keep the weeds of life from growing in our hearts. When my dad died, I was so distraught, my mom took me aside and said something that has stayed with me. She told me, remember, a person is not truly dead as long as they are remembered. So here's to you mom! I love you and miss you, but you are still alive in my memories and in my heart. If i could make wishes come true, one wish would be that everyone be as blessed as I was to have a mother like mine.
7 people like this
17 responses
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I am so sorry you lost your mom but that was so beautiful.. what a wonderful tribute to your mom!!! She sounds a lot like my mom and I grew up pretty much the same way - poor no new clothes just hand me downs or mom sewed them, she always tried to make it seem as though we weren't poor teaching us how to do things like make planters from milk cartons and bird feeders too. I always wanted a club house - she used to take out the afgans and covers and make a tent in the living room...lol..I loved those days of being home with mom. My mom is still alive and lives 2 blocks from me- we talk everyday and I visit her 5 out of seven days with my dogs, since losing my dad I spend a lot more time with her.
3 people like this
• United States
3 Mar 07
I can remember the home made tents out of sheets and what fun we had with them!! I carried it over into my life as a mother too. I'd get big refrigerator cardboard boxes for my girls and cut windows into them. We spent hours playing in those boxes, my daughters, their dad and I.
• Canada
2 Mar 07
Your words brought a tear to my eye. I haven't had the best of relationships with my mom. She always had a favorite child and lets just say it wasn't me lol. We're much much closer today than we were when I was growing up, and I know that when her time does come I'll miss her deeply. Living so far away from my family has actually done us all a world of good. My father and I have a wonderfully close relationship, and my mother and I are much closer than we've ever been. The distance between us all has made us realize how precious family is, and how much you miss someone when you can't just take a quick Bus Ride to go see them anymore. Even my sister and I get along now - something we didn't really do too much of as we were growing up. She admitted to me recently that she just wanted some attention from my Dad as a child, whereas I wanted some attention from my mom. Dad had seen the way mom was with us and gave me more attention to try and even things out insofar as I didn't feel too left out. Its strange how things work out sometimes. I love every member of my family for different reasons, and I know that when their time comes, I'm going to be deeply deeply upset.
2 people like this
• United States
3 Mar 07
I think your response helps validate the statement, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I know that this is not always the case, but most of the time, it is true. I am happy you and your mother are gaining a closer relationship with each other. Cherish it always.
• United States
2 Mar 07
Your mother sounds like a wonderful and caring woman. You have my deepest, most heartfelt sympathy. Your mom is also right, she will live as long as she lives in your heart.
2 people like this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you very much and yes, my mother was the best!
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
2 Mar 07
Beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing your memory of your mom with us. I'm very sorry for your great loss! Your mom sounded like a wonderful mom-- I am very close with my mom also.. She is my best friend.. I can't imagine losing her. I felt the same way you explained-- that sometimes growing up she tried to make my life difficult-- now as a mother myself- I realize she was just teaching me and making the person I am today- I hope your mom knew how much you loved her- Always keep her memory alive. I hope I'm half the mom your mom was and my mom is.
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you so much for your kind words. Stay close to your mother and give her the love she so deserves. It sounds like you already do.
• Canada
2 Mar 07
You brought tears to my eyes reading this . Your mom sure sounds like she was a very special woman . I am deeply sorry to hear about your loss . I hope and pray that I am doing as good of a job raising my children as your mom did . She must be so proud when she looks down from Heaven to see how her daughter felt and knowing that she did such a great job and you will always have her memories to carry with you til you meet her in Heaven one day .
2 people like this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you, my mom was one of the greatest women I ever had the pleasure of knowing, right along with my sister and grandmother. I look forward to seeing them all again some day.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
2 Mar 07
I was barely 18 when liver cancer took away my mother from me forever. She was only 52. It was followed by 3 years of painful journey for me. I do not think I can grieve anybody this much except for my mother. In the short span of time that I'm with my mother, I learned a great deal from her. She's incomparable. We also started out as poor family. My mother will go out and seek just about any kind of job she can find so we can survive. Mother was a painter, artist, writer and gifted with an awesome personality. Anybody she talks too became her good friend. She will go out of her way to help other people. Her deep compassion for this people helps her gained so many friends. I could go on and on listing down all the wonderful traits about my mother. The last few months that we're together, despite the pain and the medicines that took her body its toll, my mother remained strong and courageous. She had this interior toughness that made her all the more endearing to me. Like you, I miss her too. Too much in fact. I always had to shed a few tears whenever I remember her. Now I'm a mother myself, there is nothing that I always wish that my mother can see her grandchildren. I'm hats off to your mother. She did a wonderful life in molding you and your life. I wish you happiness.
• United States
2 Mar 07
I wish you happiness too. I am sorry you lost your mom to cancer and especially at such a young age. You sound like a wonderful person. Your mom would be very proud.
1 person likes this
@phon4u (2215)
• Laos
3 Mar 07
Sorry to hear that. My mom is still alive and full of the active energy, she is 58 years old, and she is respected from the societies. She always smiles, she is very helpful and so kind to us; and she often loves her children equally. Although she studied only the third year of elementary school, she has been working hard to feed me, my brothers and a sister from the blood suck out of her bone. I think this life I will not be able to do a return to her completely, even I share my salary for her a bit much more than my dad, because she totally bears the family for food. She is the best woman in the world. As you know, there are twelve things in our physical that be from her such as liquid things, water, blood, uterine, etc. So I don’t think we all can do return to her when we are grown up. We all think about the woman like our mum such a date on March 8th , find some thing special for her.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Tell your mother I said thank you for loving her children the way she does. It sounds to me like she has every reason to be proud of her handiwork, you sound like a lovely human being.
@LadyLudie (359)
• Philippines
3 Mar 07
sorry to know she had passed away,you are lucky for having a mum like her.all of us have different expriences but we must accept the fact that no one stay in this world. she had left you a weapon you can use for your life and even for your children in the future.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
That she did, that she did! A wonderful weapon too. Thank you very much.
@20031969 (932)
• India
3 Mar 07
first of all i have deep regret that your parents have passed away. it is really regreatful that in such a tender age you have lost your parents. Secondly your mom had fallen in love when she mat a wonderful person, it is a human behaviour. when you are in love, age does not bar. but she did not go ahead one step more, so i have respect for her Will. third it is not possible for anybody to forget mother's memory from childhood to till the last breath. thanks.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you, your words are lovely!
• Canada
3 Mar 07
I am sorry to read that you lost your Mom . You wrote such a wonderful tribute and I thank you for sharing it with us . It was so refreshing to read of such a wonderful relationship that you had and of all the ways that she blessed you . I am glad you have some wonderul mememories to carry in your heart of her . My Mom is only 69 and in good health so Lord willing I expect to have her arroud me for many years yet . We don't always see eye to eye but I know she loves me and she is always a champion to me cause .
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you very much. My memories of my mother and other loved ones get me through many days. You and your mom sound like you have a great relationship, nobody sees eye to eye on everything 100% of the time, but that keeps thing interesting and opens the door for communication.
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
3 Mar 07
First of all, let me express my sympathy to you and your family for your loss. Mothers are wonderful persons, but sometimes we kids fail to appreciate them. I'm glad you loved and appreciated your mom :). You are truly blessed.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you. Yes, if there is one thing I try to instill in young people, it is, if you have been blessed with loving parents, cherish it, appreciate it and show respect.
• India
2 Mar 07
hey u nice to hear that but so sorry for she is no more. if she were alive i would have definitely loved to see her for i ve a 9 months old daughter. she is my first baby and i need to love her more and more and give her the best in life, may be your mother could ve guided me for that. really i miss her too. u are jst too lucky
2 people like this
• United States
2 Mar 07
Thank you so much. Always love your child and let your love and concern for her guide you.
1 person likes this
• China
3 Mar 07
I love my mother too because she grows me up.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Wonderful! Love her always!
@kahlana (58)
• United States
3 Mar 07
I am very sorrry for you loss. But I am however very glad that you were able to learn so much from her :) people in our lives change them in so many ways we would not be the same people without the ones we care for deeply.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
So true, so true! I am who I am because my mom and dad loved me.
@vivekk20 (185)
• India
2 Mar 07
add first two words and last three words of your topic.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you for responding. I was trying to figure out what exactly you were saying and then I decided you are saying that your mom taught you alot too. I hope that I understood correctly.
• United States
3 Mar 07
what we are is because of our brother only na .......
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Thank you for responding. Family and friends play a huge role in molding us.
• United States
3 Mar 07
Im sorry you miss your mom so much. Im sure I would feel the same way. You have wonderful memories of her though. Thats awesome really. Some people grow up with parents who dont care at all.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 07
Yes they do and I can't imagine not having a mother's love or a father's love. I was so very blessed with both.