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Anna

Mother's Day


It's Mother's Day weekend so I thought I'd write some of the best advice my mom gave me. First I need to tell you a little about my mom. She is one of the strongest women I know. She lost her dad suddenly when she was 16 which forced her mom (my grandma) to go back to work. Since her older sisters were working/married/semi-out of the house, she was the main caregiver for her brother who had muscular dystrophy and was wheelchair bound. Despite the challenges of helping take care of the home and her brother she went to college and graduated salutatorian of the university. Years later she met my dad, got married, and jointly they decided to move to America for a better life for their children. They chose Michigan, with no other family and not really knowing anyone. She immediately got a job as a social worker and worked over 30 years until her retirement. We always had what we needed and we always knew we were loved. Here was some of her advice to me growing up: * Never give up, work hard for the things you want * Don't forget to take care of yourself too * Be kind to everyone, treat others the way you want to be treated * Always be thankful and write thank you notes * Never leave the house without a little blush (no makeup before 16 years old of course) * Be self sufficient, don't expect hand outs * Always be early, it's disrespectful to be late * You never know until you try * At the end of the day thank God for all your blessings

My mom did the best she could with what she had. I have vague recollection of the day she started her new job as a social worker in a city let alone country she was unfamiliar with, and she had to leave me at a Detroit child care facility. I can see her standing at the door crying while I stood crying, I must've been 3 or 4 years old. I remember her crying too when she and my dad dropped me off for the first time at my college dorm. I remember the look on her face when I told her I had cancer the first, second, third, then the fourth time...none of those times got any easier. I think of my kids and how I would react to that news and it breaks my heart. Was my childhood perfect, was she the 'June Cleaver' of all moms? Of course not (does that even exist?). Am I the perfect mom? Far from it, we are all imperfect and every child is different but I do my best. I grew up seeing a smart woman of strength and character who supported my every move from youth to even now and I never doubted her love. Motherhood is the hardest job on earth. Thank you mom for a great example of motherhood, for all the sacrifices you made, and for never having to doubt your support. Happy Mother's Day! “Mothers observe all, absorb all, give all, forgive all, offer all, suffer all, feel all, heal all, hope for all, pray for all. But most of all, mothers love always.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

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