motherhood

I don't any parent goes into it reliazing that it is a lifetime commitment.  I mean, yeah.  In your head of course but oopsies happen and children are not always planned.  I once asked my own mother if my baby brother was planned.  His response: "Hell Janie, none of y'all were!" I was born while he was still in college at UTM which was not quite the ideal.  A year later, we moved here to the farm.

Mama had her hands full with three kids, a job, produce to put up and all the other things that come along with the farm.  Daddy actually had two jobs between the USDA and the farm.  That was quite common then.  

Sonehow in the midst of this frenetic activity, she carved out time for herself.  There was a weekly bridge game with her friends.  She was very accomplished writer and photographer of all events.  I have the photo albums to prove it!  But, her biggest love was cooking.  She taught me how as I was growing up as she had learned from her mother-in-law Lottie.  I still use Mom's cookbook along with many other people who bought it back in the day.  So many of those recipes are from folks in Dyer county.  She had connections with the Dyer County Fair and some of the things in that book are from blue ribbon winners long gone to glory.

I credit my   mother with not allowing me to quit Med Tech school three months from graduation.  It was so freaking HARD I was about to lose it.  She drove to Memphis and said "No, girl."  Ain't happening!  So I graduated in June and the rest is history.  She was my biggest advocate even though I was a bit of a rebel as a teenager.  Hey...we all are.  As a bit of a political activist regarding Vietnam  I did some strange things.  Like going to a Led Zeppelin concert barefoot.  And she took me!! 

Mama had a heart of gold for the least of these.  She volunteered with many local organizations and was a faithful legacy Methodist.  She used her organizational skills in all areas of life including the Sellers SS class there.  Before she and Daddy died she turned over an entire album of stuff from their class's history. 

Not many of those folks are left but they carry on, God bless 'em.

Mom was the perfect memaw for Lauren because she would play with her for hours and teach her to make little sammies out of white bread.  Cookies too!  They loved each other so much.  LP has her own daughter now and though Mama was already in heaven when her great grandchild was born, we have shared pictures and memories so that she knows from when she came.  

Being a mother is not just by blood.  Many kids need the perspective of an elder that cares and meets them where they are.  I wish that mom could have know Elizabeth because she is a force to be reckoned with.  And my rebel self loves that.  

Even if your mama is in heaven, you can still talk to her.  Happy Mother's day^j^