Mother's Day is Not Just For Mothers
by Leann
Today is when we take time to honor one of the most important people in our lives--our mom. We all have or had one, after all. But for some of us, mom wasn't exactly of the storybook variety--all warm and loving and wonderful. I used to read about moms like that as a child and wish. Oh how I wished. But that's history. Over. My mother has been gone for 33 years.
Yet, there was a woman who made all the difference for me as I grew up--my mother's half sister. My beloved Aunt Ruth. She loved me with all her heart and I knew this for as long as I could remember. White haired early in life, pointy chin and always dressed like she was going to church. Not a hair out of place, not a ragged fingernail, not an unkind word for anyone.
My Aunt Ruth hand-painted flowers on a dresser for me, she made me a ballerina costume for Christmas that sent me over the moon with happiness. And cook? That woman could cook. She was the one who gave me a bridal shower with beautiful flowers, chocolate-dipped cookies, finger sandwiches and lots of hugs. She also was my "mother of the bride" and her husband, Uncle Bob, walked me down the aisle. My parents just couldn't make the trip from their home at the time in Brazil. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob carefully transported a spectacular wedding cake in their car from Niagara Falls where they lived to Syracuse where I was married. And who was my very first babysitter after my son was born? You guessed it. Aunt Ruth. She was the one who I sent flowers and cards to on Mother's Day. I miss her to this day.
I was lucky to have my aunt-mother. So very lucky. It's not always the title, but the person who made the difference that counts.
What about you? Your mom may have be the special one she should be, but for those of us not so lucky, who was your mom-not-really-your-mom?
Today is when we take time to honor one of the most important people in our lives--our mom. We all have or had one, after all. But for some of us, mom wasn't exactly of the storybook variety--all warm and loving and wonderful. I used to read about moms like that as a child and wish. Oh how I wished. But that's history. Over. My mother has been gone for 33 years.
Yet, there was a woman who made all the difference for me as I grew up--my mother's half sister. My beloved Aunt Ruth. She loved me with all her heart and I knew this for as long as I could remember. White haired early in life, pointy chin and always dressed like she was going to church. Not a hair out of place, not a ragged fingernail, not an unkind word for anyone.
My Aunt Ruth hand-painted flowers on a dresser for me, she made me a ballerina costume for Christmas that sent me over the moon with happiness. And cook? That woman could cook. She was the one who gave me a bridal shower with beautiful flowers, chocolate-dipped cookies, finger sandwiches and lots of hugs. She also was my "mother of the bride" and her husband, Uncle Bob, walked me down the aisle. My parents just couldn't make the trip from their home at the time in Brazil. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob carefully transported a spectacular wedding cake in their car from Niagara Falls where they lived to Syracuse where I was married. And who was my very first babysitter after my son was born? You guessed it. Aunt Ruth. She was the one who I sent flowers and cards to on Mother's Day. I miss her to this day.
I was lucky to have my aunt-mother. So very lucky. It's not always the title, but the person who made the difference that counts.
What about you? Your mom may have be the special one she should be, but for those of us not so lucky, who was your mom-not-really-your-mom?
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by
Edel Waugh Salisbury
(new)
May 10, 2011 08:00AM
My granny was my mum when my mum and I did not get on so well and I lived with her. She would get up early in the morning and make breakfast for the two of us before I went out to work and had dinner ready when I got home. We loved the same type of tv programs and would sit at night watching them having a laugh and drinking many cups of tea. She looked after me when I was sick and when I lost my baby she was there for me to to talk to and no matter what I needed she would do her best to provide it be it a shoulder to lean on, her voice on the phone when I was in hospital or the morning before I got married giving me advice about how to not fall over in high heels.She had a little tiny kitchen with a range in it to cook on and the smell of turf and the cooking and the warmth in that little room with my granny always makes me smile.She would sit at the little table the kettle always on the boil and ready for a chat for anyone that would come in.
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