Here is my column in this week’s Hermantown Star in honor of my mother: Even at 70, my mother still is the best mom My mother will reach a milestone year this month. It can be said she has lived a great life. I would venture to say that the last 44 years have been the best for her. OK, done talking about me. This is a piece on my mom. Hopefully it will have some meaning for other mothers out there too. My mother has yelled at me, but has never sworn. My mother always gives me a hug, even when I might need a good kick in the backside. My mother may grumble at my choices, but will always support my decisions. My mother will respect my opinions, even when hers are greatly different. My mother will always give me advice, but wants me to do it my way. My mother always cooked us healthy meals, even after a long day at work. My mother was always tight with money, but was always there to help out in a pinch. My mother loves being a grandmother, and loves when I come to pick them up at the end of the day. In the 44-plus years that she has been a mother, it has not been easy. My sister and I pushed the boundaries, as all kids will do. Neither of us have been the ones to get in a lot of trouble and there was never a need for her to ever post bail. For my sis and me it was more verbal sparring and trying to see what we could get away with, especially as teenagers. I recall a time when I had to pick up traveler checks for an upcoming high school trip to Germany (West Germany at that time). I was going to the local bank and pick up whatever ones were available. My mother told me I needed to call my German teacher and find out which ones were the best for European travel. I simply refused to do it. I was 17 and I new everything. My parents did not force me to make the call to the teacher and never knew that I did eventually call him. Again, I was 17 at that time. I did things differently. For the most part my mother and I have had a great relationship. I have deep respect for her and hopefully show it with my actions and not just my words. We often talk about life, relationships and mix in some politics and religion. When it comes to sports we have little in common. And that is OK. My mom has been there for me, every single time I needed her to be. Not once has she backed away from the responsibility of being a parent. Not one single time. Which is all a child should really ask for in a mother. From time to time I will meet a person around town who knows my mother. Their words are always glowing and positive. She is genuine and honest. A trait many of us aspire to have and often fall short. When my father passed away in 2002, our relationship grew much stronger. I have to admit I went to my dad for a lot of advice on things. For the first 32 years of my life I talked much more with him. I miss my dad every single day. Yet in God’s simply plan for me, the last 12 years have been a great chance for my mother and I to develop a stronger relationship. My mother became a grandmother five months after my dad’s death and moved to town to be closer to us. She has been nurturing and support of all three of my children. I used to think that 70 was old. My mother has shown me that if someone lives a good life and is even a better person, you can still feel young after seven decades. Life is a gift and my mom makes the most of it. At 70 years young she continues to give warm embraces, big smiles and fills every room she is in with kind words. And I could not be prouder to be her son.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:43:35 +0000
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