My mother did not mother me like she wanted to.
She worked more jobs, changed addresses more frequently, and endured more hardships than any mother should. Each “yes” she spoke carried the weight of necessity rather than choice.
“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary – it’s an act of infinite optimism.” — Gilda Radner
She sacrificed her vision of motherhood to keep my belly full, my mind nourished, and my future bright.
While other mothers attended after-school events, she worked extra shifts to pay for my braces, my cello lessons, my track cleats, and my advanced placement courses. She could not mother me as she dreamed, but she mothered me as I needed.
“There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” —James E. Faust
My mother lived the life she had to, so I could live the life I want to.
Because of her sacrifices, I can decline what doesn’t serve me. I can change course when needed. I can mother my own daughter with the freedom of choice – working remotely, sharing midday lunches, traveling at will. These choices are her gift to me.
Today, she can mother her granddaughter differently than she mothered me.
While she couldn’t mother as she wished, she ensured I could. In our family tree, the fruit reveals everything about the roots, and my roots gave me wings.
My mother’s greatest gift wasn’t the mothering she wanted to give – it was the freedom she sacrificed everything to provide.
She freed me to mother my way, and no greater inheritance exists.
Thank you, Mom.
