Sunday 12 May 2013

Mothers Day


From a visit to Duthie Park with
my mom :) We watched the bumbles
for ages, sitting on a bench in the sun.
I'm posting late today - at the end of Mothers Day but I'm still wishing all the moms out there a blessed day. I know that Mothers Day is difficult for some and ignored by others - for many reasons - and for those moms/children I hope the day passed painlessly.

Yesterday I was one of 3 speakers at our church for our Mothers Day service and I started with a personal story about my mom. Even though I'd practiced in advance - and thought I would be ok sharing - I still broke down when I read it out loud. My church family rallied around, with one of my fellow speakers coming to stand by my side for the entire 10 minutes I spoke and the rest of them calling out their support. It made me sniffle more... but I know I am blessed in my church family...

My mom lives in Scotland now so we're reduced to Skyping, emails and summer visits. We had our rough times and battles when I was growing up; we still have the occasional problems - she's a very strong woman! - but when I most needed her in my life she was by my side in a heartbeat and got me through the worst moments of my life.

I want so badly for my children to say that of me: that I accept them for who they are; that I love them no matter what; that they can always call on me for anything and know that I'll be there.

They're 22 and 24 now. One is married; one is at college. They're both living their own lives and I don't know what the future will bring. It's likely that we'll all end up living on different sides of the Atlantic and I'll only see them once a year - like my mom and me. How can I be there for them if I'm nowhere near them?

I don't know what I'll be doing next year at this time - I may be preparing to relocate to live near my mom and away from my children...

I don't know where my children will be... my son has plans to leave for England this year; my daughter is applying for college transfers.

All I know is that this year, this day I realize, as a daughter, how much my mother means to me, how much I love and appreciate her - and, as a mother, how much I love and appreciate my children.


4 comments:

  1. It is hard when your babies move away...our youngest left for Las Vegas right after college and it is hard not to be with her every day! But it makes our visits so special...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My visits to my mom are always special too :) And I'll spend 2 months (almost) with her this summer so I'm looking forward to that :)

      Delete
  2. Your post makes me sad. As a new mom of two I can relate. My family is spread all over New England and that's far enough for me. I'm sure your children appreciate you more than you know. At least we have Skype now a days! :) I'm your new follower and also holding a linky, please hop over and check it out. I'd love for you to link up! :)

    Theresa
    Pinkadots Elementary

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Lynn,
    This post brought tears to my eyes! I can relate, as I have a nearly empty nest with one in college and the other looking at colleges. I love the poem "Mama is a Sunrise" by Evelyn Tooley Hunt. Whenever I read it I am reminded that I would love nothing more than for my children to say that I am their "sunrise." Thank you so much for sharing your feelings.
    Darlene
    meatballsinthemiddle

    ReplyDelete