Thankful For My Mom

A few weeks ago I did a post on (one of) my (many) hectic Friday morning(s). So this post is on the one perk of that Friday morning (besides my windows getting cleaned for the first time:).

One perk to Friday morning’s craziness was the opportunity to spend the day with my mom.
I am so, so grateful for my mom, for all that she is, and all that she does to support me. My mom is so encouraging and has always believed in me, even when I didn’t. We’re at this stage in life where she’s not only my awesome mom, but she’s also an awesome friend. I can call her when I’m bawling or when I have some lame joke to tell her, and she’ll either cry with me or laugh with me. I seriously can’t thank God enough for giving me my mom. And I know I am so fortunate to still have my mom around. I tell her every now and then that she’s never allowed to die. I seriously don’t know what I would do without her.

My mom’s my role model in so many ways. She’s one of the happiest persons I know. A real, genuine happiness. She’s also one of the most patient and gracious persons I know. All my life, whenever I would see someone get an attitude with her (who often was myself), she had (and still has) this amazing ability to not retaliate but to stay calm and respond with gentle and loving words. It would amaze me every time. I would think, “React, Mom! Say something fiery back! Don’t take that! Tell ’em what you think!” But she wouldn’t. She would always calmly give a measured response. At times, it was almost frustrating because some people (including myself) deserved a fiery comment in return! But calm and loving she would remain.

Mom is also non-stressable, if that’s a word. In the midst of my chaotic parenting, I’ve often asked my mom, “How did you manage to raise four kids in another country with no family around to help out, and with dad gone for months at a time (due to his job)?? How did you not lose it?!” My mom would softly laugh and say, “Oh, I don’t know. I guess I was naive and thought that’s just how things were.” But that of course isn’t the answer I’m hoping to hear; instead, I’m wanting to learn the “10 Tips on how to always keep your cool while wee ones hang on you all day” or the secret to make parenting smooth and simple. So often I wished I had my mom’s calm, cool way of handling the chaos of parenthood. I get frazzled as a mom way more often than I ever thought I would.

Mom also never judges me. There are times where my house is completely trashed, and she walks in, and I’ll say, “Sorry for our trashed house.” And she’ll always respond with something like, “Oh, it’s not trashed! You’re way too busy enjoying your kids to keep up a clean house. You’re doing a good job loving on your kids. The house can always wait. If your house was spotless, then I’d be concerned!” Ahh, soothing words for a tired mama’s soul. This same grace-filled understanding happens whenever I’m at my wit’s end with the girls and call my mom sobbing on the phone. I never feel dumb or incapable as a mom. Rather, she makes me feel just the opposite.

I know there are people out there who never knew their mom, or had a mom who wasn’t very involved in their lives, or their mom is no longer with us. So as I type out each word here, I realize just how fortunate I am to have my mom, and my heart wishes every person could have someone like her in their lives. But that’s something I love about my mom – it’s not just the fact that’s she my mom that I love her so much, but because of who she is. So my prayer and hope is for everyone to have someone like my mom in their lives – be it a mentor, a neighbor, a friend, or partner. There is something so life-giving and encouraging when there’s someone in your life with whom you can be your complete hot mess self, and they love you and see all the good that you’re doing and all that you’re becoming. We need people like that in our lives. Life is way too short and hectic and painful to do it all on our own.

So thanks, Mom, for always being in my corner, cheering me on, and speaking words of life into me. I am so grateful for you!!!