Mother's Day (continued)

Lindsay wrote this very nice piece for the Graco blog.

Thanks Mom!(& Happy Mother’s Day)

May 11th, 2008 by Lindsay Lebresco

Every day is a good day to thank your mom. I truly try to do that whenever I think of it. Here’s an example of a recent call - “Hello Mom? I just heard a radio ad about paying down your college debt- thanks for paying for college and not leaving me with heaps of debt. That’s it. Gotta run…!

But Mother’s Day is just a reminder for us to acknowledge the moms in our life. I wanted to thank my mom for the values she instilled in me as a child. These values are so important to me and I hope to instill them in my children as well. Here goes:

Honesty- I will never forget the time you told me that “Liars do not live in this house!” Apparently I was stubborn enough to decide that the need to keep lying was more important than a roof over my head because I packed my Snoopy suitcase and this sad, pajama-clad 4 year old in pigtails showed up at the neighbors looking for a place to stay. Lesson learned. Honest.

Charity- Fortunately I was enough of a charity case that most of your generous donations went to me but you always showed me how important it is to give to others whenever possible. Thanks to you, I’m known as a “bleeding heart” to all my friends!

Independence- Yeah- this is one of those things that I probably cursed at you for years but I look back now and thank you. When you always made me order my own food, talk to the bank teller as I deposited $1.27 from my latest capital venture, pack my own lunch every day, get a job at like—age 12! (Child Labor laws anyone??!!) Your confidence building nudges have made me the independent woman I am today.

Commitment- Me- “Please, please, please can I skip soccer practice to go to the cool girl party of the year at so and so’s house??” You- “No. You made a commitment to the team and you need to follow through on that because they depend on you being there.” Let’s just say I hated that for many years because I made too many commitments that kept me away from too many cool sleepovers but once again, I’m thanking you now- I get what it means to be on a team and what that commitment means to everyone involved.

Support- Nothing says loving support like 2 cups of coffee and a power nap at halftime. I’m talking about the 2 cups of hot coffee you simply held to keep warm, shivering under your coat, on the stands at my sporting events just so when I looked up you would be there cheering me on (with your eyes and smile since your hands were full!) and the power naps you took in the car at halftime after working the night shift and driving 2 hours to a soccer game only to watch the entire game, drive home and actually return to work the next night! Now that’s support!!

Love- Having 2 parents that still love each other after 37 years of marriage is a true testament to what love is and the role model that you are for me as a wife. I am eternally grateful for the love that you have given me – unconditionally. I don’t think anyone truly understands unconditional love until you are a mother. (or parent) To love a child and do whatever it takes to make them happy is a bigger task than anyone could imagine. But it’s something you take on without consideration when you become a mom because you just wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for not having it any other way.

So Mom- on Mother’s Day- Thank you. Such a small word for such big gifts. I appreciate you every day and love the role of “Nana” that you have taken on over the last 3 years. I’m so happy that my children will benefit from having you in their life as well.

Lastly- to my mother-in-law, Pattie. As far as mother-in-laws go, I’m happy to say, it doesn’t get better than you. I want to thank you today for raising your son with the same core values that I was taught as a child and that guidance you gave him is clear in the man he is today. He’s an incredible husband and father and for giving me that- I thank you this mother’s day. And of course, you are a wonderful and giving Grandma too!

Stop by and tell me how someone thanked you this Mother’s Day.

Additionally

I am really digging this 80's Hit Song (Acoustic Style)

The Dead Heart - Midnight Oil

The end gets me fired up!

Broken!
Mining Companies, Big Mountian Companies
Get out of their companies
Chemical Companies, Uranium Companies
Got more rights than people
More say than people, yeah
More say than you and I the people, yeah