My Mom

I meant to have this posted for Mother’s Day, but it didn’t happen. If you don’t know my Mom you are missing out. Life is never boring with her around. Mom is one of those people that bizarre things just happen to without her meaning to cause them. She definitely fits part of the blonde mentality. Mom has a big heart and is always worried about everyone’s feelings.  She doesn’t want anyone to ever feel bad or be hurt. My Grandma Ila use to always tell us, “Now don’t be saying anything that’s going to cause trouble.” Grandma didn’t like contention in the family and Mom is just like that.

Until I was 18 years old Mom provided child care in our home. She could have 10 kids under the age of 5 on any given day. I would have gone insane. I don’t know how she did it. It takes a special personality to be able to handle that. My cousins were part of “her kids” and as a result we are all very close.  They are all still “her kids”. When Jan and I got home from school we were expected to help. I am grateful I was taught to be responsible at a young age. Mom taught us well.

One of the few constants in my life has always been my Mom. It is a great comfort to know she is always going to be there when I need her. All it takes is a phone call and she is on her way. No questions asked. Mom spent many nights in the hospital with Kyle so I could go home and get some rest. She always made sure we were both taken care of. Her and Dad took Kyle home and took care of him when I couldn’t due to work. They have been such a huge help and support for me. They are the perfect example of unconditional love. It never wavers.

Mom puts up with a lot from us kids. We tease her a lot. Years ago she took her girls, Emily, and Natalie to Disneyland. She looked the whole time for the perfect keychain that said Paula on it. She finally bought one on the last day. When we got home she got it out to show my Dad and the name on it wasn’t Paula, it was Dorothy. To this day we have no idea how she managed it. That same trip while walking back to the hotel from Disneyland at midnight she caught her foot on a crack and fell flat on her face in the middle of the crosswalk. We got her up and got her off the street. The next morning she had a bruise on her chin in the shape of a mickey mouse head. Mom spends a lot of time on the ground. She is well known for tripping and falling. The last few years it’s because of her legs, but she didn’t use to have an excuse. She was standing in the backyard last night and realized she was on really uneven ground and there wasn’t a smooth path out. She refused to move until we came and helped her walk to the sidewalk. I feel bad that she has to be that worried about it. Hopefully when she has her knee renovated again this fall it won’t be such a concern anymore.

Mom can drive me totally crazy and yet I couldn’t love her more. I will never be able to give back to her all that she gives me every day. I love her so much.