This Mother’s Day, while thinking about my mother, I am especially focusing on one of the defining characteristics of a mother – she is someone who always puts others (her family) first.
Does this define your mom? It defines my mom to a T. Even though we are all grown now, she is still running around, helping everyone out, before she does what she wants to do. She thinks about everyone else’s well-being before her own. It’s amazing that our mothers (and fathers!) are so selfless. I’ll have to call my mother today and thank her for that.
Seeing her act this way has taught me to be considerate of other people’s thoughts, feelings and agenda. People need to feel special, and they feel special when you give them attention and show interest in their interests. Our parents are probably the people who are most able to make us feel special, because we almost always feel like they are focused on us (except for when the grandchildren are around). I mean, who else will drive 250 miles to watch you run your first half marathon, take home your broken down car and look the other way when you eat enough food all weekend for everyone who ran the race?
Bye bye Kimbot II!!!
I am lucky to have such great parents!
Okay, I lied, there are actual TWO things I am focusing on this Mother’s Day. The other thing is what a goober my mother is, how much she likes to have fun, and how she makes me feel like it is okay to be silly and enjoy life! Life is much more fun if you are able to laugh at something each day (hence the tagline – the most wasted of all days is one without laughter).
My mom and I do this hilarious (we think) thing when we sign our emails to one another. I am not sure who started it. Probably her (see – I learned to be goofy from her!). It started off with simple closings like “hugs and kisses, mom” but then that turned into (see some examples below):
Her:
- Love and ciao, your mama (after an email about Italy)
- Love your lumpy mom
- love love love love you, mom
- always loving you, your funny bunny mommy.
- love, your laughing all the way to the book club, mommy. (tonight at 6:30)
- Love, Your “Oh Shit, can’t commit” mother (that sound like a cheer) (ha, ha)
- Love your robust mamma.
- P.S. I hate my life! love Mom (from an email with the subject “my f-ing paper”)
- p.s. I don’t hate my life, love mom (from the next email with the subject “sorry”)
- Love, your soon to be licensed to read, literary mama
- take care, love, your Kristi Yamagochi mama (Dad and I went ice skating today)
- Love forever and always your magnum P.I. Mommy
- love forever and always, Your Greastest Fan, Mom
- YO, YO, YO, your mama from the hood. ROCK ON Love MOM, Uncle Rocky and Aunt Adrian, keepin’ it real, in Evansdale!
- love ya always your food loving momma.
- Love Mountain Woman Momma (guess what crazy crazy (!!!!!!) movie of yours we watched over spring break at the cabin.)
- love and hugs from your small hometown greek village momma mia (singing and dancing the night away)
- love your Laura Ingalls Wilder country Mama Mia.
- Love you your country bench buildin’ mama mia.
- Love your Czechoslovakian Mamma
- Love forever and always, your sound of music momma
- love, your livin’ large momma
- Love your, skip to my loo my darling, mother
- Love your,Mother on the run, just got home time to unload the van
- Love you, not for long, bumpty bumpty mommy
- Love your gotta walk mother
Me:
- Love, Your Data’s in my spot so I have to sit in the middle of the couch daughter
- Love, Your “It’s time for mother to make the commitment” daughter
- Love, Your “Oh Shit, can I afford that car payment” daughter
- Love your slow-running but sticking with it daughter (I ran 6 miles today and Steven and I both got new shoes)
- Love Kimbo, your trying to quit swearing so damn much daughter
- Love, your Rocky offspring sore chest and quads daughter
- Love, Your coughing congested snot faced daughter
- Love you! Your Wall-E Robotic Mute Daughter
- Love, Your “I’m keeping it a secret” daughter
- Love, Your “you can do it!” daughter
- Love,Your numb faced daughter
- Love, Your “who the hell designed that website?” daughter
- Love, Your “not ashamed to pose” daughter
- Your “I hate that running makes me have the shits” daughter
Wow, mine are pretty lame compared to hers! Believe it or not, all of these closings realted to the content of the email in some way…
And with that, I am ending this scatter-brained post to enjoy my day!
The thing that happens when you become a mom is that you realize you never had a grasp on what really loving someone meant. You end up with some sort of nearly physical connection to your child, and you love them in a way that no one else can be loved. My husband is my soulmate, but my children are my heart. So it isn’t about putting them first, because they’re that much a part of you, thus taking care of them IS about taking care of yourself too, if that makes any sense?
Sounds like you have a good mom. 😉
Yes, what Kyra said.
Your mom sounds wonderful! I love the email signatures. My mom and I used to be goofy, silly and laugh so much. I miss her.
Enjoy your day.
Kyra – I cannot understand completely, since I do not have chilldren 😉 But I can imagine that connection 🙂 and that taking care of them is more than taking care of someone outside of yourself since they are such a part of you.
Jo – I love being goofy. I am happy you had that with your mom too 🙂
That is too funny! Those are all so cute!
I LOVE this little game you play with your mom. She sounds like a great woman and wonderful mama.
Run Sarah – Thanks! I always look forward to seeing what she will write! Sometimes I do not remember to write something funny until I see hers!
Beth – Thanks 🙂 She is great!
Your mom sounds like so much fun!
I agree with Kyra. There isn’t a way to NOT put my kids first because seing them happy makes me so much happier. At holidays and things, I would rather they get a really nice present than me. Seeing their face and seeing their joy is so muc better than the actual gift!
tori – Aww! See, I was right – you moms ALL DO IT! 😉
Ok, you and your mom are a GREAT hoot! “your magnum P.I. Mommy” Tee-heee-heee! I think it’s great that you have that kind of fun relationship w/ the most important characters in your life; your mother! I love your email signatures, they are hilarious!
JQ – I loved that one too! I think ALL emails should be signed that way!!! 😀
This post brought a smile to my heart. You are so incredibly lucky to have a mom with a sense of humor. I loved all of the email sign offs, yours and hers. Every email would make me smile and lift my spirit. Thanks for sharing those!! 😀
Aw, what a sweet post. I wrote about my mom yesterday too…and my mom definitely puts her family first!
That’s so cute! And so great that you guys have such a close relationship, and that you bring laughter to each others’ lives 🙂
Oh my gosh this is my favorite post of all times. Love, your tears rolling down my cheeks, Momma (thank you)
Denise – I am happy you liked them! Maybe I can come up with some good ones for our emails 😉 You know, if I EVER get around to responding to them!
Bethany – Ooo! I can’t wait to read your post about your awesome mom!
superslawa – Thanks 🙂 I always know I can get a good laugh from her. Whether it’s with her or at her! ha ha ha!
mom – I am happy you like it! Happy belated mother’s day! Love, your feelin’ like I have to poo daughter.