Reflecting on the great mothers in my life
With Mother’s Day coming up tomorrow, it got me to thinking about the three ladies in my life who I’m ever grateful for.
My mother worked hard to provide for my sister and I growing up. Neither of us made things too hard for her, as far as I know, but nevertheless, she was always there for us.
I left home for the Air Force almost 35 years ago, and it was tough on my mom, especially the two years I spent in the Philippines, where a 20-minute telephone call to the states would cost me $150, so they happened very infrequently.
For a long time, I carried a bit of guilt because I knew she never really got over my leaving.
Today, she still lives in the same house I grew up in, exactly 388 miles from my own in Poplar Bluff. We talk occasionally, but not nearly enough. Sadly, because of work schedules, a pandemic and a myriad of other reasons, I haven’t seen my mother in more than two years.
I think about her every day, and I only hope she knows what she means to me.
My wife has been my rock for 30-plus years, always there when I needed a shoulder to lean on and supporting my wacky adventures.
She worked tirelessly while in the Air Force and later in the private medical sector to provide for our little family and make our home what it is, and she continues to do so today.
She’s also a great mother.
While my daughter always seemed to be a daddy’s girl, it was her mother who held things together while juggling work, home life, school sports and no telling what else while I, many times, was out working.
Nowadays, she’s a “cool grandma,” and that makes her happier than anything.
My daughter and I have always been especially close, from the time she was a toddler and still today.
She has her own family now and lives almost four hours away, so I don’t get to see her nearly as much as I’d like. Thankfully, we have technology like FaceTime now, to make staying in touch easier.
I take great pride knowing she’s molding young lives every day as a teacher, something she aspired to do since she was in the third grade.
And speaking of molding young lives, she’s also doing that at home.
She gave me a grandson three years ago, and she’s been an incredible mom to him. I don’t know how she juggles school work, which never seems to end, with family life and raising a toddler, but just like everything she’s ever done, she’s done it incredibly well.
An old adage says “Behind every great man there’s a great woman.” I don’t know about the great thing on my part, but I certainly have three great women in my life I’ll always be thankful for.
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