Tribute to my Mom before Mother's Day

I have a whole bunch of crap to do tonight while the boys are sleeping, but I'd rather write about my mother for a minute. She would hate that, she would want me to get all my work done, she loves order & hates messes!


My mom is a glamorous and sophisticated woman. I always thought she was one of the best looking mamas when I was a kid, I still do. She always has on lipstick & reminds me to wear it. She doesn't understand women who never wear lipstick or women who get married & then never try to look nice again. That bugs my mom, she always looks great.

My mom is popular. I know as a teenager she was not an "in crowd" type of chick, but as an adult (when it counts!) my mom gets a lot of respect and has a lot of friends. When I was a kid, everyone stopped to talk to my mom when we were out and about. She could talk and talk and people would go out of their way to chit chat with her, while I would wait for a long, long time.

She grew up all over the world, India, Ireland, Switzerland, the daughter of a foreign service officer. When she married my dad, a recently returned Vietnam vet, they moved all over the world too. We lived in Germany, Saudi Arabia and a bunch of states, moving almost every year for awhile. When we got to our new house, the very first thing she did was set up our bedrooms as soon as we arrived, so we'd feel at home instantly.

She is the kind of mom that will hold you when you get hurt, but will also tell you to shake it off. She had 2 boys and me, and my sister died when she was a baby. When I lost my own baby, I knew I would survive, I knew one day I would have fun again, that I would never be the same, but I could be OK. My mom did it and so could I. The summer that my son died, she talked to me all day every day, she walked with me and helped me manage things I couldn't do. She understood when I repeated the same things over and over.

My mom is kind of punk rock. She traveled alone with my brother and me on countless transatlantic flights. I can't remember her ever losing her cool on those all night plane trips, although she swears she did. She will fight to get what she needs, she doesn't take no for an answer, she is tough. She is confident. She is also a diplomat, able to get along with anyone and smooth out any misunderstanding.

She loves my husband. If we fight, she pretty much always takes his side. She has skills in maintaining a great relationship so she's usually right. She has been married to my dad for 35 years and they still cuddle and giggle like newlyweds. It used to drive us crazy when we were kids. Now I'm in awe of their relationship and my ears are always open for her advice.

As we both get older, she is one of my best friends. She knows how to handle any social situation, etiquette is her thing. Yet I can still show her obnoxious videos from you tube and she will laugh with me. I am grateful every day to have such a great mother and I am blessed to be able to live close to her so she is a huge part of my children's lives. I love my mama!