Mother, Mother

Over the past month, I have been thinking about my Mom more than usual and not just because Mother's day is approaching, but just because....I am grateful.  There are three things I want to thank my mom for that has greatly contributed to who I am today.

#1 - EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!
Recently when I went to cooking school in Montpellier, each day I was reminded how my Mother taught me to eat well and take good care of my body and health.  As a young child, my favorite food was peas, strawberries and plums.  She would allow me to veg-out on strawberries and plums until I was physically ill of them.  It wasn't cheetos or pizza rolls - it was veggies and fruits we ate in abundance.  I also remember the gigantic jar of vitamins on our kitchen counter she would give us everyday. Now I have a jar on my counter as well.  We had close relatives that we would love to visit so we could raid all the junk food in their cabinets - they were considered "rich kids" because they had twinkies, ho ho's, and big bags of oily potato chips.  That is the thing about being immature - you're short sighted.  Now those kids have all types of health problems associated with the way they learned to eat.  So thank you Mom for getting this one right.

#2 - IT'S BETTER TO GIVE (than to receive).
Many of you that know me well know I grew up poor a majority of my life.  I remember on Christmas (for several consecutive years) my mother would give my siblings and me $30 each.  She would give it to us and give us a choice.  She would say, "You can take this money and buy something for yourself or you can take it and buy things for your cousins and friends.  It is totally your choice to do whatever you would like with this - it's yours!"  Every year all of us would choose to go shopping for our friends and family - and it was a thrilling happy experience to find just the right treasure for the people we love.  I can remember the joy of going into dollar stores and gas stations to find little trinket gifts for our cousins.  I don't once remember feeling saddened by not using the $30 for something we wanted - we were too excited to be able to give gifts.  I still experience that joy when I give.  It is my love language.  Joe shares the same joy of giving which has been such a sweet spot in our marriage.

#3 - CELEBRATE LOSING.
I remember having a week of competitions in gym class as a third grader.  I had numerous first place ribbons (hula hoop championship, jump roping, and monkey bars) on the first day!  I was on top of the world!  Then on the second and third days I came home with a bunch of nothing.  I was sad, upset and a sore loser.  My mother then told me how disappointed she was that I could not celebrate that other people get the experience of having a first place ribbon. She said she would have been much prouder of me if I came home happy with second, third or no place so that others could experience the thrill of first place.  It completely changed how I saw competition at an early age.  Now when others get something I want or think I deserve - I remember what my mother said and I celebrate with them (knowing my day will come at some point).

My mother has certainly had her share of challenges and she has made many mistakes (haven't we all), but she has done some things right and I just want to acknowledge her beauty and character.  Thanks for transmitting those rays of light to me!

Happy Mother's Day!  I love you.
Ps.  Picture above is my mom as a school girl.  Picture below is her (today) being the country girl she is at heart.