Ode to My Mother

My Mother is one of the most unselfish women I know. Here's my tribute to her this Mother's Day.

My Mom and I actually don't see eye to eye much. It's always been this way and I've learned that's ok. I was an incredibly difficult child and although most of my memories of my childhood include her being mad and frustrated with me, I have some very tender memories of my Mother that have shaped me into the Mother that I am today.

My Mother read to me almost every night of my childhood. She read me all the classics, "Little Women," "Heidi," "The Black Stallion." It's the single most fond memory I have of my Mother. She'd also sing to me. So many songs that I now sing to my own children.

My Mother never gave up on me. I have put her through the ringer, but she always had faith in me and supported me. She came to every play I was ever in, she came to every single game I cheered at (home and away games), and she has listened to me on the radio (nearly ever day for 12 years unless I say something offensive and then she has to take a break for a while!)

My Mother is the definition of unselfish. She always bought us clothes before herself, she always took time for us instead of herself, and she always put our well being before her own.

My Mother has endured huge medical challenges as she has gotten older and most of them were not addressed when they should have been because she's always had that "don't worry about me, I'm fine attitude." She has endured surgery to remove a tumor on the base of her brain that caused her lots of medical issues including congestive heart failure. She has endured an 18 hour spinal fusion to correct her scoliosis, she's had a hip replaced, and just recently she had to have muscles and tendons cut in her legs in an attempt to help her walk better. Never once through these challenges have I seen her feel sorry for herself.

My Mother is the best lunch date, shopping buddy (although that's been tough as her health has declined), and I love being in the kitchen and cooking with my Mom.

My Mother is also the best care giver. My 16 year old cat, Tiny, passed away yesterday and he spent his last hours wrapped up in my Mother's arms. She was so mad when I brought home that cat from the shelter, but she has taken care of him and loved him dearly for all these years.

I couldn't ask for a better Grandmother for my children than my Mom. She teaches them lots of new things that I don't know, like how to sew. She spends lots of quality time with them, and my children love going to her home in Southern Utah, where they have sleepovers, go to my parents little "farm," and just spend time together.

To all the Mother's out there I hope you have an incredible Mother's Day. As Mother's we all make mistakes, but most try so hard to do right by their children and to give them the best life possible. We work hard in and outside of the home, and we would do anything for our kids. I love you Mom.