Things I learned from my mom

As I set and reflect today on Mother’s Day, I am a total flood of emotions. My mom is 2000  miles away right now. She’s been that far from me for a few years now, but somehow it’s worked out that many of those years I have been able to be with her for Mother’s Day, but not this year. It’s hard and I miss her terribly, but I also try to be thankful because I know so many don’t have their mothers anymore, or don’t have relationships with their mom even though they’re living.

As I set and look around my house, I see so much of my mom here, and I am thinking about all the things she taught me growing up.  My style is her style, my house is decorated like she decorated, I cook her recipes, and well, thanks to her, I know how to be a lady, and thanks to her how to love and be open and not let life totally knock you down when it gets too tough to bare sometimes.

There are many words I would use to describe my mom, but a few would be grace, patience, beauty, strength, faith. Well, who am I kidding, I could go on all day.

So what did I learn from my mom?

I learned the importance of making meals for my family. The importance of making your kids breakfast, the importance of dinner around the table and how much that all says I love you. The importance of a packed lunch and never making us have to do any of that ourselves.

I learned the importance of dressing like a lady and being a lady and spending time on yourself. I learned the importance of healthy eating and working out and taking care of your skin and white teeth! Maybe silly things to you, but they weren’t to her and being taught those things, means the world to me.

I learned the importance of her actually being our mom until the day came she could be our friend. The importance of saying no even when I’m sure it hurt her more than it did us. The importance of shielding and sheltering us from things our friends were doing when we thought we wanted to do those same things. The importance of not going with the crowd even when that was most popular.

I learned the importance of a clean home and being meticulous. The importance of a home that smelled good and one we were never embarrassed to bring our friends to.

I learned to love God and trust him in all things. I learned that this world would let us down, but God was always faithful.

I learned to love music, although I wish I had taken the time to really pay attention when she made me take piano lessons. I learned about talent and working hard to embrace that talent.

I learned the importance of hard work in anything you did and the importance of always showing up and giving 110%, even if you didn’t love it.

I learned to show up on time and how rude that was when you made somebody late, or showed up late for something.

I learned the importance of family and how nobody would ever be there for you like your family. Through thick and thin.

I learned how to smile with grace even when you felt knocked down and to believe that somehow things would always turn out.

I learned the importance of organization in all areas of life and how much in life that would save you in.

I learned the importance of the truth and apologies if you were wrong.

I learned the importance of giving back and helping others.

I learned the importance of always taking responsibility for your actions.

And the number one thing I learned was that no matter how bad I failed, no matter how bad I screwed up, no matter how much of a mess I made of things, she was always going to be there cheering me on, being my number one fan! I learned I could never do anything so bad that she wouldn’t love me and be right there to pick me up.

As you read this today, if you were blessed enough to have a mother like this, I hope it makes you swell up with pride and realize how blessed you were. If you did not have a mother like this, and you are a mother, maybe it will make you want to be this kind of mother and choose to leave this type of legacy for your children.

I love you mom and I hope and pray that I handle life, with all it’s ups and downs with the same grace you have! Happy Mother’s Day!

With love for you all,

Shauna