Mothers and Lessons
Interview questions on the radio last week were all about what lessons people had learned from their mothers. The answers were usually along the lines of ‘always be kind’, ‘do your best’, and ‘don’t worry what others think, be yourself’ — that sort of thing.
All those answers are valid, it’s just that my Mother was not one to impart life lessons or words of wisdom. I’m sure my siblings and I would fall apart laughing if one of us responded in such a way. The question did make me think though — I must have learned some lessons from her…
What comes first to mind is an appreciation of books. She made sure all of her children grew up to be readers.
Secondly, how many parents on a road trip would wake their sleeping kids in the back seat to look at the view? One. That was my Mother. She always appreciated a good vista and wanted to make sure we did too.
Thirdly, she had a good sense of humour. She was not particularly funny or witty herself. She could tell one joke and one joke only, yet she had a fine sense of what made a situation humorous.
My Mother was thirty-nine when I was born, and I was thirty-nine when she died. I would have liked to have told her that if she didn’t exactly pass along words of wisdom, she imparted a value of books, nature, and humour.
What about your Mom?
Stay safe everyone.
I learned my five favourite words from her….”Eat it and shut up!” Miss her though…
Thank you — you’ve proven my point.
That is a great one!!!
Thank you!
I found this quote a while ago – think it is from a Nobel prize winner Mo Yan –
“When literature exists perhaps we do not notice how important it is, but when it does not exist, our lives become coarsened and brutal.”
EA
Thank you EA, that is lovely.
Your Mom was a truly lovely person.
Thank you Rod. She was lovely, and a genuine character too. Your Mother was terrific herself.
I love your truth, Anne. My parents, as immigrants were too busy surviving to even think about the motivational phrases of today. My mom taught me how to cook and laugh (she was the life of the party — like my daughter Rita — even if I wasn’t). Mostly she taught me how to survive against all odds. What I most loved about her was her strength — surviving the wicked stepmom, surviving WWII, leaving a country she loved to come to this unknown place, facing cancer head on at 56, knowing she only had a few months to live. She was my rock, and after all of these years … I still miss her terribly.
You have told me some stories about your Mother’s survival skills. Just hearing those stories as you were growing up must have been inspiring in itself. Thank you for a lovely comment.