Tuesday, August 3, 2010

thanks to my mother



With all the mothering I've been doing lately (and by lately I mean the past 3 years, 8 months and 2 weeks), I've come to the conclusion that I haven't thanked my own mother enough for all the mothering she's done for me over the past 37 years, 1 month and 15 days.

So this is for you, Grama Bama. It's all I've got so far. When I reach the point where I'm mothering teenagers, I'll add to the list. It might be a long one. Although, come to think of it, I was a mostly perfect teenager. That list might be kind of short.

Thanks for potty training me.
Thanks for teaching me how to wash my hands.
Thanks for cleaning up my puke.
Thanks for making me take naps.
Thanks for putting me to bed at night.
Thanks for getting up in the middle of the night when I yelled to you that I needed to use the bathroom, even though I was perfectly capable of using the bathroom all by myself.
Thanks for buying stuff for me instead of yourself.
Thanks for brushing my hair.
Thanks for giving me baths.
Thanks for brushing my teeth.
Thanks for teaching me how to brush my own teeth.
Thanks for spending your time doing things for me instead of yourself.
Thanks for filling my cup with milk several times each day.
Thanks for washing, folding and putting away my clothes.
Thanks for letting me put my shoes on the wrong feet.
Thanks for being patient with me while I took them off and put them on the right way, even though that's what you told me to do in the first place and I should have just listened to you instead of saying No! Me first! over and over again.
Thanks for helping me get dressed.
Thanks for teaching me how to dress myself.
Thanks for sitting outside with me while I played even though it was blazing hot, you had mountains of laundry to fold and there were at least three other places you'd rather be.
Thanks for changing my diapers.
Thanks for feeding me.
Thanks for teaching me how to feed myself.
Thanks for making dinner for me.
Thanks for cleaning up my messes after dinner.
Thanks for clipping my fingernails.
Thanks for clipping my toenails.
Thanks for wiping my snotty nose, even though it probably made you gag.
Thanks for giving me a bath at 6:30 in the morning after I puked in the middle of the night and didn't even wake up and then the puke dried on my neck, chin, hair and Star Wars pillowcase.

And most of all, thanks for loving my babies as much as I do.




p.s. A few of those are ones I'm really hoping to hear Danny and Cate saying to me some day soon.

5 comments:

Marion said...

Grama Bama was a mother figure to many many people through the years and always has a warm place in my heart! She is a spectacular woman who loves her girls! I still remember her screaming as we drove over bridges when we were little! Thanks for the tribute to your mom! She is fantastic and has many children out there.....many that she did not birth!
Mairon

Dan said...

I pretty sure Glenora didn't do the second to last thing you thanked her for. She may have cleaned puke off a Rainbow Bright pillowcase, but not a Star Wars one.

Also, when she watched you play outside in the blazing heat, it was also humid. (Glenora likes to point out the humidity she suffers through in the South, so it should be mentioned.)

Unknown said...

We have an awesome Mom! But you forgot to add one thing to the list - thanks for making sure we all know we are her favorite!

Judy said...

I remember her NOT cleaning up my puke. I must not be the favorite after all. Thanks, Mom!

Anonymous said...

Glenora said...

Judy, you were 21 when you puked and your I wouldn't clean it up. You were big enough to clean it up yourself! Get over it!