Tag: Mothers’ Day

Family, Humor

Mothers’ Day

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.
-Spanish Proverb

My mother, as has been established, is certifiably awesome.

Some of my favorite memories with her have been the day trips we took together, when I finally got out of the twerpy teenager phase and could really appreciate them. When we lived in Belgium she and I went down to Versailles together overnight, just the two of us, just because. We also wandered through Antwerp, Ghent, and Brugges. In the UK we did Cambridge regularly. It was great fun and I didn’t appreciate them close to enough at the time.

But I’m going to make darn sure I do the same with my spawn. Those hours or days, just the two of us that she carved out just to be with me, we’re just extended “I Love Yous” with hyper impressive scenery.

Maman à Versailles.
Maman à Versailles.

So, just in case I didn’t say it enough then, I love you back, Mum.

Family, Humor

Mum’s the Word

“At the risk of being crass, Mum, you do realize that you kick ass, right?”
“I do, don’t I!”
– C., Mum

A belated post on my Mum, because I spent yesterday talking on the phone to her and having dinner at my in-laws’, like a good daughter should!

1.  Mum, you were horribly, obnoxiously right about piano lessons.  I’m glad you sat on my head for ten years so I could realize I liked them.  I wish I had practiced more.

2.  Thanks for letting me quit ballet.   I regret doing it and I miss it, but that teacher was evil.  You got me out of a bad situation, and taught me long term the value of really knowing how much I can take.

3.  You taught me how to cook.  I’ll never love it, but let me tell you, when I put my mind to it, even you would be impressed with what I can whip up!

4.  You taught me how to stand up for myself and that sometimes it’s necessary to be a vicious, biting wench when it comes to sticking up for friends, family, and principles.

5.  You also taught me to be a lady, and that it was more than sitting up straight, keeping my elbows off the table, and knowing which fork to use with which course (even though you were pretty good about covering those too).  It’s that my actions directly affect everyone I come in contact with, and I’d better behave accordingly.  I’m still working on this one, but I have high hopes for myself.

6.  You taught by example that my education doesn’t ever end, and must be aggressively sought throughout life.  Three degrees, four kids, ten moves across countries and continents, two dogs, and Cambridge later, you’re still learning and teaching.

7.  You taught me the importance of belief and faith, even when it’s unpopular and hard, and that no set of principles is worth having if it’s not worth questioning, struggling over, and occasionally taking that Indiana Jones step into nothing.

8.  You always trusted me, with school, boys, work, high school, and my own opinions.  You gave advice when I asked for it, and let me go my own merry way when I didn’t.  This quiet confidence in me kept me straight like helicopter parenting never could.  Clever you.

9.  More Dior, less Disney.  Best lesson ever.

I stand by what I said, Mum, you totally kick ass.

Love,
Your Not Quite Perfectly Ladylike But Getting There Thanks to You Daughter