Mother's DAY

I have the hardest time on Mother's Day. I am so emotional anyway, so my kids know I'm very tender hearted. I had a beautiful lesson taught to be in church today. Several woman talked about motherhood. I wanted to share something REALLY simple that was said...it was to "live in the moment." So often, we worry about a clean home, our crazy over scheduled days, and feelings of not being the mother we want to be. I could go on- but if your a mother, you know the word- GUILT. I am very hard on myself. I was inspired today to just simply enjoy "being a mom- all my faults and all."

As many of you know, I lost my mother 5 years ago. It was so sudden and unexpected. Without sharing too much, my mother in law and family has been having some emotional issues within our family. Out of respect to my family, I won't share the private details. I want to share this- in family's we all have misunderstandings and hurt feelings. It's a part of life. I sent a very bold and heartfelt email to my mother in law this week. I was so sad to see people that I love hurt and being judgmental. I said something that I truly mean. I mentioned that as much as my mother and I --often had issues (what mother and daughter) doesn't at times? I regret that we spent so much wasted time due to misunderstandings. In my email, I said that I would give ANYTHING to have just ONE hour in the presence of my mother.

ONE HOUR...just to see my mother again.

The other stuff...it just doesn't matter.

When I hear friends complain about their mother's. I feel compelled to tell them to ACCEPT who they are. Embrace the good, and overlook the bad. I have no idea WHY I'm sharing this...just felt I should.  Love your mothers...Love your daughters...life is too short!

I was so thankful to be able to share the day with my birthday girl. I know we all love our children, so I am no different than any other mother. I told my children tonight that I LOVE being their mother. I wanted them to know they are my life, my heart and my joy. One of McKay's best friends came by tonight. She wanted to give her a gift on her birthday. Her friend Camrey, gave her a CD that she made for her. At first, I thought it was a music DVD. However, it was a DVD made especially for her. It was a video of various pictures, videos of them together, and words made to music. It was the most touching thing! Camrey put photos of the girls-some- several years old. It was of them at Halloween, goofing off, at school, etc. She said..."We have been friends for nine years and you are still the same since the day we met. You are sunshine!" Plus, other cute thoughts. She had photos of sunshine...and photos of their friends together. It was the most thoughtful gift. Camrey took the time to give her a true gift. A gift of LOVE- from the heart. I know Camrey does not read my blog, but I can't thank her enough for loving my daughter. I will personally go over to her home tomorrow and give her a big hug.  Lesson learned-the gift of love is priceless.

I will post more photos from the homecoming tomorrow. Hope you had a wonderful day surrounded by those that you love!!!

Comments

[Dawn]

I am glad that you and your daughter had a great day. Family is Family and I agree with you that we must learn to accept and love each other no matter what. That is a beautiful gift that camrey gave your daughter. That will be something she can always treasure. I LOVE gifts like that. Sweet memories. I had a great Day just hanging out with my son. Isn't that what it is all about? :-)

[LoriKaye]

thank you teresa for this great post!!!

[Diane]

Sounds like a great day. I am right there with you I would love just another hour with my mom. Have a great week!

[Jewel]

Teresa,

Your blog touched me very deeply. I too lost my mother 3 years ago very quickly. It leaves a hole in my heart that I know won't ever completely heal. I was so very emotional yesterday and I think my kids thought I was a little crazy but I know they don't understand and don't expect them to. I just feel so blessed to have two very beautiful children and wish so very much my mother could be here to watch them grow up. My biggest regret is that they won't remember her as they were only 3 and 5 years old when she passed away. I haven't been able to scrap much of her life because it is too painful but realize I must so that my kids will get a sense of who she was when they are older. Sorry for rambling on so much but I just wanted to let you know that I know exactly how you are feeling and was so touched that you opened up about your family. I guess we don't truly appreciate what we have until it is gone. Take care.

[Lynda Volz]

Teresa

What a touching post...you had me in tears, thank you for reminding all of us to appreciate all of our loved ones, even the ones we may not agree with....thank you!

[Shannon]

How right you are!!! I often get hung up on the guilt word! I also think it is so easy to fight over stupid things that if we came right down to it, it wouldn't matter. Glad you had a nice mother's day.

[Amy A.]

AMEN!!! Thank you for sharing your heart! I too lost my Mother many years ago to cancer. When I hear other women complaining about their Mother's I gentle touch them on the arm and remind them to be grateful that their Mother is still with them and to just relax. Give your Mom a hug instead of a complaint.

[Alexandra Hobson]

This was a really great post Teresa! I am VERY close to my mom and you are so right - we need to accept each others flaws and enjoy what we DO love about those that are close to us!

I am glad you got to share your day with your daughter - how special! Time with our kids goes so fast, we need to enjoy each and every moment we are given!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

[christie]

Thank you for your kind words. You inspire me in so many ways...You reminded me to be grateful for the blessing of motherhood!

Thank you! Thank you!

[Becky Olsen]

I think of you and Kim not having your Moms around anymore, and in spite of my issues, I have spent time with mine knowing that if things were to change I would regret those missed opportunities. It makes me sad that my lesson is learned from your losses, but it makes me glad that you are willing to share your insight.
Such a sweet friend that Camrey is! So glad that Miss McKay had a great day and that you two could share it! VERY SPECIAL!!!
B-

[Damiane Lucas]

What a beautiful blog, Teresa. Thank you for sharing your life! I, too, lost my mother four years ago and feel as if I have lost a big part of myself. Only through my Christian faith have I been able to move forward. Also, I have discovered the joy of scrapbooking through you. I will gather photos of my mother and begin to journal and scrapbook the beautiful times we shared. I hope you had a great Mother's Day, and I am glad that your daughter has amazing friends. What a blessing!

[Deanna]

Teresa, I wanted you to know hearing you talk so often about your mother has helped me in many ways. One was hearing you talk about her check register. For the readers here Teresa told us how she found her mother's check register after she had passed and how much it meant to see her handwriting. I realized then no matter what we journal on our pages one day when family members look back at our writing it will be a special part of US. Second was knowing how much I would be devastated if my mom was gone, just as I'm sure you are. We've had ups and downs and I had to just decide life is too short. When you ask yourself why you tell such personal things about yourself please realize it helps some of us step back and take a look at our own lives.
I do have to admit Mother's Day is always a day that I have to sit on pins and needles. I don't know why but for some reason my kids get hurt on Mother's Day. One year one of the boys stuck his arm through glass and had to get plastic surgery, another year my daughter fell head first into my son's mouth knocking his front two teeth OUT! Last year, same son fell and hurt his back, causing muscle spasms. This year! Wow they missed Mother's Day but the oldest totalled his car on Saturday and today one of the other's broke his finger keeping him from playing baseball for 4 weeks. So next year would you mind if I come for a visit? Just kidding!!!

[pomaika`i scrapaloha]

Happy Mother's Day!! You said it so well! {{{{hugs}}}}

[donnapiranha]

I totally agree with you! When I hear someone say "You're just like your mother" and they mean it as an insult, I think that's terrible. Why do they not want to be like their mothers!? Mothers go through so much and they DO so much. If someone tells me I'm just like my mother, I am grateful!

[Barb A. Stewart]

Hi T !!

Wow, our Pastor's sermon on Mother's Day was about the same thing..."Live in the moment" .
Unfortunately I too, lost both parents within 3 years of each other. I was nineteen when my mom passed and twenty-one when I lost my dad. I'm 42 now.
I regret many things...most of all- not realizing just how fragile "time" could be and to make the most of every moment I had with my parents. I was young, immature and very foolish-I thought my parents would live forever...it's a painful feeling that I live with everyday.
My advice to my own children and other young adults would be to value life and make the most of every moment with the people you love because life turns on a dime-sometimes without warning and you can never get those moments back....
Mother's Day is a difficult day for me emotionally also but I make sure that the time with my children is well spent and treasured!
Hugs, Barb