My Mother, My Greatest Influence

Every year, for the past few years, Mother’s Day has been a very special day for me.  It is a celebration of motherhood, of womanhood, and of the person who has had the greatest influence on my life – my mother.  And every year, as I discover more about my self, about humanity and the world, I become more grateful for everything my mother did and the values she instilled in me. I also become more aware of how difficult it must have been for her, how incredibly challenging.  “Mummy” was always the one to play “bad cop.”  She endured us seething at her when she made us come in from playing, eat fish on Fridays, wear itchy jumpers, speak to strangers in public, or go off on adventures with unfamiliar adults.  Yet, through all our resistance, she stood strong. No matter how stubbornly we struggled, she stuck by her ethic of raising us to be healthy, down-to-earth, adaptive, and responsible adults.  Now, with each passing day, as I fumble through life, my gratitude deepens and my admiration for her grows.  I realize my drive, my vision, my zest for life, and love for humanity, all came from the very seeds she planted.  She created a safe and stimulating environment for my sister and me to be children, to explore, and to experience ourselves in nature.  She taught us to earn what we wanted and care for what we had.  She exposed us to diverse people, places, languages, cultures, and experiences. I can never thank her enough for all she provided for me, nurtured in me, and demonstrated to me. My mother is unequivocally the most beautiful woman in the world – she radiates spirit, joy and light.  Her playful curiosity is contagious and inspiring.  Today I celebrate her!  Thank you for my life – I love you!

photo by Norman Parkinson