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Hello everyone,
I have been thinking about posting on this topic for a couple of weeks. My plan is to post a discussion about my Mom, and what she taught me. I will post another one about my Dad. Anyone want to share memories and gratitude for what their loved one gave them?
My Mom was a beautiful, tall blond woman of Scandinavian descent. (Sadly, I inherited my Dad's looks instead.) Mom was a sensitive, kind and gentle person.
She taught me:
How to be a loving and caring person.
To appreciate everything in nature -- she would take each of her four children on "nature walks" just to be together and appreciate little bits of beauty, such as a flower or a bird. Mom and I maintained a bird watching book together. She loved to put in a little story about the weather, what everyone was doing, and what the bird was doing.
To cook, and to bake, and to make pickles, jams, and jellies. She canned tomatoes every summer and gave them to all of us. I still look forward to the summer and all the produce. This year I made salsa, and a tomato sauce despite feeling so low.
To be fair. Both my parents always treated their kids equally.
To think more about what I said and did than what I wore or how I looked.
To knit, the Scandinavian way. I was able to knit some wool socks for my Dad when he was sick. I have knit blankets for my grandchildren, and mitts, scarves and hats for others.
About gardening. I have always grown both flowers and fruit/vegetables. We could talk about gardening right up to the end. She would forget the name of something, but I could always figure out what she meant.
To love Christmas (although this year was tough.) She always surrounding us with love. When I was a young girl, she stayed up late every night before Christmas sewing us Barbie doll clothes. Sure, they weren't the real thing, but we loved them anyway. I still have the wedding dress she made for my Barbie (this was in the 60s!)
To take care of my teeth (silly I know). We went the dentist regularly, used good toothpaste, and always brushed our teeth. We could only have candy on Saturday nights, after which we brushed, brushed, brushed our teeth.
All about African Violets. I still maintain a few plants and think of her when I care for them and they bloom.
To appreciate art. I have one of her paintings on the wall above our dinner table, and my siblings all have paintings too.
The importance of a loving marriage. She worshiped my Dad her whole life, and was endlessly supportive and proud of him.
The value of activities. She took us all to scouts, guides, and other groups. When I was a little girl, she drove us everywhere in her tiny little white Anglia car.
There are many more things, but these are predominant in my mind right now.
Do you want to share some memories?
Tekla
I have been thinking about posting on this topic for a couple of weeks. My plan is to post a discussion about my Mom, and what she taught me. I will post another one about my Dad. Anyone want to share memories and gratitude for what their loved one gave them?
My Mom was a beautiful, tall blond woman of Scandinavian descent. (Sadly, I inherited my Dad's looks instead.) Mom was a sensitive, kind and gentle person.
She taught me:
How to be a loving and caring person.
To appreciate everything in nature -- she would take each of her four children on "nature walks" just to be together and appreciate little bits of beauty, such as a flower or a bird. Mom and I maintained a bird watching book together. She loved to put in a little story about the weather, what everyone was doing, and what the bird was doing.
To cook, and to bake, and to make pickles, jams, and jellies. She canned tomatoes every summer and gave them to all of us. I still look forward to the summer and all the produce. This year I made salsa, and a tomato sauce despite feeling so low.
To be fair. Both my parents always treated their kids equally.
To think more about what I said and did than what I wore or how I looked.
To knit, the Scandinavian way. I was able to knit some wool socks for my Dad when he was sick. I have knit blankets for my grandchildren, and mitts, scarves and hats for others.
About gardening. I have always grown both flowers and fruit/vegetables. We could talk about gardening right up to the end. She would forget the name of something, but I could always figure out what she meant.
To love Christmas (although this year was tough.) She always surrounding us with love. When I was a young girl, she stayed up late every night before Christmas sewing us Barbie doll clothes. Sure, they weren't the real thing, but we loved them anyway. I still have the wedding dress she made for my Barbie (this was in the 60s!)
To take care of my teeth (silly I know). We went the dentist regularly, used good toothpaste, and always brushed our teeth. We could only have candy on Saturday nights, after which we brushed, brushed, brushed our teeth.
All about African Violets. I still maintain a few plants and think of her when I care for them and they bloom.
To appreciate art. I have one of her paintings on the wall above our dinner table, and my siblings all have paintings too.
The importance of a loving marriage. She worshiped my Dad her whole life, and was endlessly supportive and proud of him.
The value of activities. She took us all to scouts, guides, and other groups. When I was a little girl, she drove us everywhere in her tiny little white Anglia car.
There are many more things, but these are predominant in my mind right now.
Do you want to share some memories?
Tekla
This is a wonderful tribute to your mom, and I hope that others may recall their own personal memories with you. Thank you for sharing, and as you think of more memories of your mom, please come again to post them.
Ambi
Thank you so much for your replies. I was so worried I had offended someone. I was so lucky to have such a wonderful childhood, with parents that really cared. They gave us both "roots and wings." The anniversary of both their deaths is week after next week, Mom on January 27 and Dad on the 31st and this has been a tough month for me. Last year they were both in hospital at this time struggling to live. It really does feel good to share memories. I appreciate you all so much.
Tekla
Ambi