When we were little kids (I have 3 Sisters) I can remember distinctly each outfit my Mom would wear. I don't remember them because they were that great (although my Mom always looked neat and clean), I remember them because there were so few. I never got that until later in life when I was conscious of my own clothes and I realized that my Mom always wore the same clothes and rarely bought anything for herself because she spent every dime she had on us girls.
I can remember each and every Labor Day through school when she would drop us off at the start of the Labor Day Parade (many years we were all in different activities), watch us each go through, and then pick us all up at the end. There were some years that Jamie (my Twin) and I had to go through the parade 2 or 3 times because we were involved in so many different activities. That, takes dedication. The last thing I want to do on Labor is carpool kids back and forth through a parade. I'm sure I will get my fair share sooner than later.
Anytime any of us girls came home and said we wanted to join an extra-curricular activity, a way was always made. My Dad traveled for work, so many times, it was up to Mom to shuffle schedules and figure out how to get 4 girls to activities on the weekends and during the week. Talk about crazy! In my high school years, I began to play club volleyball. The team I played on was a travel team and was very expensive. Somehow, someway, there was always a way made so I could play.
At Christmas, there were always so many gifts under the tree that you could hardly walk through our living room. Christmas was always a magical time of year at my house. My parents weren't the kind of parents who bought us toys all year long (which was a good thing), so Christmas was always a really fun time for us. Not only were there gifts, but there was always wonderful food, beautiful China, and most importantly Family. I will never take fore granted the Holidays at our home. As we have grown older and matured in our own lives, Christmas has changed some, but not the feeling of walking into Mom's house and seeing all the decorations and trees and food and presents and so on. It's definitely a feeling I want to pass on to my little girl!
There's been many times in my life where I have been wronged (who hasn't) and I can say that I've always had my Mom to walk me through it. Of course, there's also been times where I have been wrong too, and she's definitely walked me through those as well. I've always appreciated the fact that I wasn't a pedestal child. I've never been portrayed as perfect, and I've always been accepted when I've failed. I certainly hope I can be so true with myself when Emme is growing up. I don't ever want to watch her grow with blinders on!
This Fall, my Mom and Grandmother joined Shannon, Emme, and I for vacation in Florida. I have always known my Mother's love for the beach, so I was quite excited to have them with us. It was a wonderful week, a rare time when we could spend Mother/Daughter time without anyone else (remember I have 3 Sisters). I enjoyed the vacation so much because we spent everyday on the beach just chatting, just the two of us. Don't mistake me, I thoroughly enjoy our big Family times (there are 19 of us total), but it's definitely not the time to have one on one conversation. It really meant a lot to me that my Mom would take the time out of her busy work schedule and also her vacation time, to spend a week with us. Of course, who in their right mind would turn down a week at the beach?
I could go on with more stories, but I think we all get the point. Mom, thanks for the sacrifices, love, and time you have put into making me who I am today. I, am Thankful, for you.
I had no idea that you had 3 sisters, including a twin. Where have I been?
ReplyDeleteI am very jealous of people with sisters :)
I love your recollections. I immediately thought back to sacrifices I knew my parents made for us. I hope I show them in adulthood how much that means to me now. Obviously, your mom did a great job raising you :) XO & very, very happy Thanksgiving to the Bunches!