As for the tantrums in the store...some of the women do actually just ignore their child, while others aren't sure what to do. A bunch of people that I've heard comment on a situation like that will say, "Smack that child!" But we, as a society, are so intolerant of violence or child abuse that it's been made hard to draw the line between discipline and abuse. So, rather than face the wrath or condescension of onlookers, they just note it in their mental child behavior chart and save it for later.
But this wasn't meant to be a soap box for an issue this time. This entry is to celebrate motherhood and acknowledge and thank mothers all over the world. I'd especially like to thank my own mother for all she's done (sounds like an awards show, doesn't it?). She raised five of us and I know it wasn't easy at times. We didn't make it easy at times! (And for that, I'm sorry!) Between running us to sports games, the doctor, friends' houses, the doctor (that's right, I'm talking about you, Eric!), school, the doctor (okay, I'm talking about myself here...what with spraining my ankle at school as well as breaking my wrist on the swings), plays, parties, camp...you name it, it seems between the five of us we've been to it all. Mom would get frazzled at times, but very, VERY rarely did she let it show. The main thing she did show us was love. She didn't hold that back. Now having a child of my own, I can only hope to be like her, the greatest role model there is. She let us be us, encouraging us where it was needed, helping us back up if we fell, leading us back to the path if we got lost. Only here in the recent years have I started talking to her...really TALKING to her...about things the way friends do, and my only regret is that I didn't do this sooner (I wouldn't talk to her for anything in school!). I actually was a little sad when I'd quit my job (definitely not because of the job!) because we would talk when I'd drop Jake off and when I'd pick him up. Yeah, I know we live close, but this was a daily thing and I'd looked forward to it. I think one of the best memories I have is when I was little, before I was in school though all my brothers were, mom and I would go for walks. There was a trail on the property down to the river that we usually took. It splits and goes on either side of a creek. Mom would ask me which way I wanted to go and we usually took one side, the closer side. But then, one time, we took the farther side and I noticed all these tiny purple flowers. Now, I was the kind of kid that picked dandelions for mom, just to give her flowers (and at least for a little while she would put them in water in her little crystal bud vase). But I saw these little purple flowers and thought they were soooooo pretty that mom HAD to have them. Those little flowers were violets. And even today if I see them anywhere they make me smile (and sometimes even get the urge to pick them!) because they're mom's and my flowers.
This is a very long entry, I know. Especially since I haven't written in a little while. And even though I've only had about a year's worth of experience in this area, I know everything I've written is true and from the heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment