I love my mom
I was first born, so first loved, but when my brother and sister came along, there was more than enough love to share between us all.
MY mom is the best, are words often expressed over and over again, but – my mom is THE best!
She’s 81 years young now and a little fragile but her mind is as perfect as ever and she can still give as good as she gets. Her whole life she has been there for me, my brother and sister and we wouldn’t be the people we are today if it wasn’t for her. (Of course my dad played a great part too but today is about my mom).
I was first born, so first loved, but when my brother and sister came along there was more than enough love to share between us all. We never felt one of us was loved more and we were all treated just the same. If I was given a gift, other than when it was for my birthday, so were my siblings and mom always tried to spend exactly the same amount on us. She still does, even after all these years.
She worked hard to put food on the table too, as well as my dad, and if some days there were only four chops, she’d make the excuse she didn’t feel like meat that day!
I remember when I was about 14 years old and sheepskin coats were all the fashion. I wanted one so badly but there just wasn’t extra cash available. My dad owned one, albeit not new, and my mom sat up nearly all night taking it in and sewing until her fingers were raw, so I could wear it the next day. Now that’s love and I just loved it and wore it with pride!
My mom always gave me great advice, although I didn’t always listen and lived to regret it often. When I was at the dating age, my mom said: “Don’t chase after a boy. Let him chase you.” Did I listen, no! When I look back I could have saved myself a lot of heartache if I’d taken her advice.
I married young and again didn’t listen to my mom. “Run in the opposite direction,” she told us. That marriage ended a few years later.
When I left England to move to South Africa, I broke my mom’s (and dad’s) hearts. I knew best and I knew I wanted to move away and have some excitement in my life. In some ways I got a lot more than I expected, not all good, but I also gave birth to two beautiful children, a girl and a boy, who I love more every day.
My early days in SA, especially after I’d had my children, were filled with longing for my mom to be here with me and of course she longed to be here too. My daughter was three months old when they met and my son a bit older. She did come over every two years though, so my children could know and love her too.
Motherhood has turned full circle and now I worry that my children will one day leave SA to make a new life in another country. They’ve both expressed a desire to. It will leave me heartbroken, as I left my mom, and when my grandchildren arrive, I’ll only know then how my mom felt all those years ago.
Thank you for being the best mom in the world. For all the love, devotion and friendship and for letting me go when you wanted to keep me close to you. I pray if and when the day comes for me to let my children go, I can be the same wonderful mother to them and let them fly to make their own lives. I love you.
