Here's To Mom's!

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

On this Mother's Day I think we need to think about all of the Mom's who have to work on this, their special day.

Especially the waitresses who always work on Mother's Day. It's a day when they know they'll be busy and make (hopefully) lots of money in good tips.

On Father's Day usually the Moms are the one's who prepare the food and celebrate that day at home.

But usually on Mother's Day the Dad's treat the entire family to dinner/breakfast or lunch out. There are a very few Dads who prepare dinner for mom (my late husband never, never cooked) so they take their significant other out to celebrate.

My late sister (whom I've spoken about often) and whom I lived with from the time I was around 13 until I got married at 18, was never a waitress but she often worked at one of her two jobs on Mother's Day. She was a telephone operator and a receptionist/phone answerer....

Back then it was all about making enough money to pay the rent on the apartment (two bedrooms for 6 people).

I did get the chance to pay her back; but not in the way I would have liked to have done it. She was in the emergency room and I got a call that she was very sick. She'd been living with her adult son. He meant well, but he was (like my Dad) a functioning alcoholic. He just couldn't care for her. She was (I think) 11 years older than me.

I spent the day there (you know how slowly emergency rooms move). My husband came and brought me lunch. My girls were with him (as he didn't trust babysitters).

I said, "We're going to have to bring us home to stay with us....at least until she gets better". They didn't know what was wrong with her. She came to our house that day. I was with her the day the Dr announced out loud to the waiting room that she had Multiple Sclerosis.

She and I (later in life) had a (let's call it...colorful) relationship. There was so much love between us, but she was (she admitted it) very jealous of the life I'd made for myself (my children, my husband, my home, not having to work and be financially comfortable). She used to say to me, "Why you? Why does everything good have to happen to you?". I'd say, "Because I carefully planned out my life and MADE it work. When you and everyone kept saying, 'Why don't you have a baby? Is something wrong with you?' My sister died a few months after she went back to live with her son. She died of renal failure. She'd been taking (with Dr's orders) enormous dosages of Prednisone. She just stopped taking them suddenly. It caused her body to shut down. We (her family) believes she was tired of being alive. She knew so much about medicine, she could have been a pharmacist, so she knew what would happen.

Anyway, on days like this I especially think of her and my own Mother. I never lived with my mother (well I did for the first 3 months), then never again. It is what it is. It worked out better for me, my 2 half-sisters tell me and I agree.

My mother was married 6 times, to only 3 men! I won't bore you with the details except to say I think she was her own worst enemy. Just another person who made the wrong decisions and paid for them.

My mother died many years ago. It was at least 20-22 years ago. I never dwell on number of years of anything because I don't exaggerate or lie. So if I don't know EXACTLY when she died, I don't quote a time. Besides, I don't think it's healthy to dwell on things like that. I do divide time into before my husband died and after he died because my life changed so drastically at that time.

I hope everyone has a good day. Not just mothers but everyone. Yes, today is especially for mothers, but then I think every day should be special for anyone we love.

I believe in telling everyone "Have a wonderful day". I usually add, "Be safe" because these days it is important to say that.....things change so quickly.

I think life is what you make it. I know someone who truly think life stinks. She's just not a very happy person. I spend a good deal of time with her. At first it would bring me DOWN after time spent with her.

However, I decided GOD put us together for a reason. I like to think sometimes I'm able to cheer her up a little. But I'd be remiss if I didn't admit she helps me too. I've gotten so that I look forward to seeing her and busting on a particular downward turn in recent days. Just talking about it helps me see the problem I thought was so terrible has already come and gone. It wasn't so terrible after all.

So you see, there are (as my daughter talks about with her children at dinner) when she says, "So tell me about your 'peaks and valleys'" what we often think of as valleys can become a peak if we keep going and walk out of them....upward and upward.

You know, I left the computer to talk with my youngest daughter (she lives in Denver). I came back to re-read the post before I hit "POST".

It made me realize how often I speak about the women in my life and just females in general. Not just because I am one (female...duh!) but because throughout my life it's been the women who have made me the person I am today.

Whatever anyone thinks of me, good, not so good or (hopefully) normal, I owe it to all of the wonderful women who've touched my life.

My guess is the same can be said for most of you. Thanks for letting me participate in this forum. It's helped me more than most people realize.

ps...Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Cathy (@ECBG) and sweet Lori (@Lorilori).

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@Annabellethecat66,What a beautiful, heartfelt post you blessed us with. Isn't our will to grow and learn not God given. What a strong, loving, and amazing woman you are. You have passed your love and compassion on to your daughters who are handing it down to your grand children and no doubt they will continue passing your wisdom down.

You are such a special gift, Linda. Love you much! Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Bulb Basket Flowers

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

It's just another day at my house. It's been raining non stop since yesterday and we decided not to go away for the weekend.

i am doing laundry. First for me and my DH, then for my daughter, her DH and my granddaughter..their washer broke.

Then for my sister who is not medically able to and another family member who is homebound and unable to...as I do once a week.

Yep, I am a mom. As soon as the laundry is done, I can get started on Dinner.

I am blessed though. I have wonderful health and I can still help others.

Everyone, have a good day.

QueenDanceALot · ‎04-18-2013

My mother died 35 years ago and we had a very difficult relationship but I thought of her today with the wish that her soul is at peace.

I spent several hours today communing with Mother Nature out in my yard, sinking my hands into her earth, caring for her beauty and listening to some of her magnificent creatures singing their graceful songs.

Happy Mothers' Day

butterfly123 · ‎06-27-2013

@Annabellethecat66, @QueenDanceALot, @Carmie @ECBG

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

My family (son, DIL and GS) actually took me out for dinner on Wednesday. We chose that evening to avoid the madness of today's busy restaurants.

So, today I putzed in my yard and planted a few new things I had traded with a friend who volunteers at the Food Network with me on Saturday mornings. My DIL called and asked if I'd like to go through the new Show Homes. Sounded fun. They picked me up and off we went! The overly expensive, grey decor and cutting corners on construction costs made us appreciate our homes even more than before. We didn't bother with all 48 homes. Picked up food for the grill and returned home for dinner and drinks on the patio.

My peonies and iris are just buds; no blooms. Had they been in bloom, it would have been nostalgia and I would have been devestated on the first Mother's Day without my mom. Perhaps this late spring was for a reason. I survived this holiday and enjoyed my family without any tears. Making progress.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all mom's of children and furry loved ones. Family is what life is all about. Finding on these forums some prefer friends to family. Hope you enjoyed your friends today and were appreciated.

Money screams; wealth whispers.

Sookie Says · ‎09-09-2014

@Annabellethecat66 You are one awesome lady, I could & do when time permits read all of your posts, I find you a fascinating woman! You are a very warm-hearted & honest person, did I mention humble. What you wrote was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, it brought tears to my eyes, as many of your posts do, and sometimes your posts make me laugh so hard, whatever you write it always comes from your heart I think that's why I love reading from you. Have yourself a lovely Sunday & may GOD bless one of my personal favorite posters, Annabellethecat!!!

LTT1 · ‎03-09-2010

@Annabellethecat66

@Sookie Says @BirkiLady @butterfly123 @QueenDanceALot@ECGB

What beautiful and enlightening posts!

@BirkiLady

I am very sorry that yesterday was without your mom. Truly a difficult time in our lives are days like yesterday that are so very poignant remembering our moms.

@Annabellethecat66

My mom’s passing did not result in any sense of loss for me, nine years ago, and for that, I’m the sorry one.

However, after years (9) of trying to resolve my relationship with my mom, I have finally come to terms with the “good stuff” that she gave me. (more another time)

On this day after, I will be wishing everyone a pleasant Monday!

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~