Happy Mother’s Day

As the third daughter in a family of six girls and one boy, I’ve been surrounded by some amazing women. None are more amazing to me than our mother.

Look at her!

I’m just days old and her hair is perfectly coiffed, she’s wearing a pencil skirt and make-up! Boy, was that a different era.

My mom was a hairdresser during my early years, so her hair is different in nearly every picture.

Mom is one of those truly selfless women, forever putting other’s needs before her own.

She was always making stuff for us. I remember the Easter where she made all our dresses. We could chose to have a matching purse or a matching doll to go with our outfit. She made costumes, decorated bedrooms and worked hard to bring beauty into our lives. I’m sure she was mortified that my dad insisted on the above picture when we’re all looking like such raggamuffins.

Usually formal pictures involved brush rollers, a giant hair dryer that we sat on phone books to reach and plenty of hairspray.

This is my sister, Nancy and me. Nancy is the Baa Baa Black Sheep with a bag of wool and I’m the Little Boy Who Lived Down The Lane. If you don’t know the reference, it’s based off an old nursery rhyme.

I love this family photo because with the exception of my dad, and my baby sister, Jen, Mom made all the other dresses in the picture. I remember going to the fabric store to pick out the fabric for my dress.

I recall having a very hard time deciding what fabric to use, but finally agreed to a Holly Hobby print with the pink bib and brown rickrack trim. Nancy immediately fell in love with the tropical print. Jen and I are the only blondes. I like that Jen is holding onto my thumb.

Again with the dresses/outfits made by Mom. Valerie’s dress (back, center) is store bought as was Nancy’s cowl neck sweater and vest, but her skirt was made by Mom as was everything else.

In fact, nearly every childhood pictures that I own has something made by her in it or some other memory of her serving her family. Mom is not a flashy woman, although she loves her bling.

She has taught us by her example, not by her lectures.

She is a quiet strength.

Throughout my life, my Mom has been a beautiful example of humility, unconditional love, sacrifice, determination, patience, forgiveness, kindness, how to find beauty in the world around me and how to take ugly things and create beauty. Her ‘can do’ attitude has rubbed off on me. I truly am my Mother’s daughter as I seem incapable of sitting still and letting well enough be.

If I possess any good or noble attribute, I can truly attest it is because of her.

I love you, Mom!

Happy Mother’s Day.

Suesan