Happy Mother’s Day… 8 Reasons Why I Love My Mom!

Happy Mother’s Day…

8 Reasons Why I Love My Mom!

“There’s a story behind everyone… and behind your story is always your mother’s story… because hers is where yours begins.” –Mitch Albom

Mom. What a sweet word. It conjures up such sweet thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday (May 11^th) and I wanted to stop & reflect on that one word: MOM.

For me, 8 words/thoughts come to mind when I think of my Mom.

1.  Grateful.

I’m grateful that my Mom is still living. She’s 80 years old and lives down in Orlando, FL. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thankful that I can still call her or hug/hold her when I see her. She’s in relatively good health and she still travels around quite a bit to see all her “kids” and grandkids.

2.  Persistence.

We never had it easy growing up. My Mom 8 had kids (hence the 8 things I’m thankful for J). I’m the youngest of my 5 sisters and 2 brothers. She & my Dad divorced when I was just 5. We didn’t have much money. I was a “lunch ticket” kid (you may only know what that is and how embarrassing it is if you had to buy your school lunches with subsidized funds). She had to sell our house where all 8 kids grew up when I was in the 8^th grade. She needed to get money to pay the bills so she moved us into a “rental home” down the street. With all of this, Mom was extremely resilient and persistent. And she was one tough cookie. Always.

3.  Radiant.

Despite our adversity, Mom never complained. As a matter of fact, it was quite the opposite. You see, I didn’t know any different when I was young that we didn’t have a lot of money or that this wasn’t normal. And that’s because Mom was always smiling with radiant energy. She made me feel special. She made me feel loved and cared for. She was a beautiful woman. And still is!

4.  Positive.

She didn’t complain. She didn’t gossip. She always only said nice things about people. She has always been one of the most positive people I know.

She always said, “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, than don’t say it.”

5.  Loving.

I guess Mom’s are “supposed” to be loving, right? I guess so. But it’s not always easy and it’s the little things that she did for me when I was young, that I most appreciate.

• The laundry every night after Pop Warner & high school football, basketball, and baseball practice. Every night. For many, many years.
• Having the large box of Honey Nut Cheerios in the cupboard that I ate every morning. Every morning.
• Her staying within the Brick HS school zone when we had to move so that I could play football for Coach Wolf.
• And the list goes on an on.

Little things. But BIG things when you’re a kid. And I appreciate it as much today as I did back then.

There was a little saying that hung on the wall in the house I grew up on Edgewood Drive (Brick, NJ). It said, “A man works from sun to sun…but a woman’s work is never done.”

Thank you Mom for all you did.

6.  Selfless.

In 1994, my Mom had been left a little bit of “angel” money from a woman that she had been a caretaker for many years. My Mom could have lived off that money for many years. Instead, she decided to take our entire family (27 people including nephews/nieces) on an all-expense paid cruise to Bermuda. Her thought, “I want my entire family all together locked on a ship for one week before I die.” And that’s WHY she did it!

7.  Adventurous.

Mom, especially in the last 20 years of her life, has been quite the traveler. She’s been on numerous vacations, and trips and cruises since that Bermuda trip, including trips to France and Greece. I think it was that Bermuda trip that catapulted her adventurous spirit and she’s been having fun ever since.

And the fact that the “kids” are all grown now, we have been able to “repay” her for the many sacrifices she made for so many years.

Mom now loves bopping around the country to see all her children in NJ, Texas, FL, & CA… and she’s always up for a cruise if someone’s going!

8.  Grateful.

Did I already say that? Oh yeah, I started with that one. And I choose to end with it again. Because seriously, I’m so grateful for my Mom. For the sacrifices she made, for what she did, and who she is today.

I started with Mitch Albom’s quote:

“There’s a story behind everyone… and behind your story is always your mother’s story… because hers is where yours begins.” –Mitch Albom

I know everyone has their own unique stories of their Mom. And I would love to hear them.

Where does your story begin? WHO is your Mom?

And if there is one word (or 8!) or character trait that most defines your Mom or that you most LOVE about your Mom, please share it below in the “comments” section. I want to read about WHO the person behind your story is.

The “WOW” (Word of the Week) is that one word that best describes your MOM. And whatever that one word to BEST describe your Mom is, that can be your WOW. Maybe it’s persistence. Or radiance. Or patience. Or happy. Or positive. Or any word that comes to mind.

For me, that one word I will most live by this week that epitomizes my Mom is LOVE!

Thanks Mom…I love you.

Todd

P.S. Please share that ONE word that most defines your Mom below. I would love to read about the person behind the person. Thanks for sharing.