A Huge Love And Respect To Mother
Life is a journey, made up of bumps, detours, and dead-ends. Through all of those detours I can think of one person who has always been by my side with a roadmap to help. Without my mother I wouldn’t be the wonderful mother, daughter, and friend that I am today. My mother has shaped me into the woman I am today. As I get older I have come to realize everything my mom did was for my own good; whether I liked it or not. Although throughout my life there have been many people who have had an impact on the person I am today, over the thirty-three years of my life it has been my mother that has made me the woman I am today.
My mom has always instilled good moral values in my brothers and myself. She would always say things such as; “Stay true to yourself”, “Don’t sweat the trivial things you have no control over”, ‘Treat others the same way you want them to treat you”, “You are the only one who can make you successful”. One thing I’m especially thankful for was my mom teaching me to be independent to have my own thoughts, instead of going along with everyone else. Being taught to be independent helped me realize I don’t need to rely on anyone. Up until a few years ago, I never really realized what she was talking about all those years ago. I work, go to school, support my family, dress how I like, I’m independent, or at least I thought. When my fiancée and the father of my three children died un-expectantly, I understood what my mom meant. It was the ability to live independently, I was able to continue providing for my children financially, physically, and emotionally. Without my mother teaching me the importance of independence I would have expected someone else to provide for us, whether it was the state, my parents, or going out and finding another man.
My mother taught me to be strong and believe in myself and to never give up. I don’t mean strong physically, but emotionally and mentally. I often feel like giving up and throwing in the towel when life gets too rough or hard for me, however that is not what my mother raised me to do. My mom always told me, “Be strong, and don’t ever quit no matter how many times you want to”. My mom’s words are what I think of when I feel like giving up or just walking away. My children need me. I’m all they have now, and I never want to see my children in the pain they were in the evening they lost their dad. I’m forever grateful my mom took the time to teach me to be strong and never give up.
Growing up, my mom never missed a sport event, extra-curricular activity, or school assembly. teaching us to always, no matter what, be there for your children and family. There are days I feel like I’m failing as a parent for my children. Then I remember my mom working full time and working bingo every Friday and Monday night just to give us as much as she could. I’m sure she felt like she was failing at times, but we never questioned her love for us. Therefore, it reminds me to just do the best I can and show my boys that I’m here for them no matter what. I’m doing everything in my power to make them the best men they can be, while giving them a memorable childhood. Continuing to have an open relationship with my children, just like my mom has with me, letting them know that I’m always here for them and support them no matter what is important. The hardest part of parenting is watching my children make mistakes or letting them experience disappointment. Instead of sheltering them, allowing them to learn from these moments, will ultimately lead to them being more prepared for reality when they get older. I had no idea how hard this was for my mother, but realizing now how important it is and how happy I am that she was willing to work so hard for me and my brothers. We all have flaws I’m just trying to be the positive influence my children need, especially in this harsh world around us.
In a split second, I was all of the sudden a single parent while being completely confused, hurt and lost. I didn’t think I could go on, I felt like I would fail my children and family, however I’m very grateful for my mother and all she has taught me. It is because of her that I have great family ethics, morals, and that I am independent, and strong. Everything I am for my children and myself, is owed to my mother. She is the most caring, sweet, smart, and thoughtful person I know. Everything she has taught me and instilled in me growing up, I now know being a mother myself, was for the best. There were times I felt my mom was just being mean or harsh, but I now know she was just raising another amazing mom like her.
