My mom is by far one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. My entire life she has taught us about the simple value of doing nice things for others. Whether she was putting anonymous birthday balloons on front doors, handing out candy canes to neighbourhood kids, bringing coffee to neighbourhood teachers on the last night of summer, or hosting a mini adult booth during halloween, I have spent my entire life witnessing my mom doing nice things for the people in our community. She has always, always, always gone above and beyond for every person she meets, let alone the people she lives among.
One of my favourite of these times happened at a hockey game. There was this wonderful woman selling beer, and a lot of people were snickering because they were unsure if she was a woman or a man. My wonderful mom, however, started one of those epic conversations she tends to have with strangers. Turns out this happy, boisterous woman has a 10ish year old daughter who is a brilliant entrepreneur: she has started a small business that raises money for a good cause and her mother uses the tips she earns to help fund her daughter's business. I think that's the story anyway. Either way, my likeable, personable mother became such quick friends with this woman and said a warm goodbye towards the end of the game. After they parted, however, my mom returned to her and tipped her an extra twenty dollars. It may seem small, but it was so special to that woman.
Mom is always so willing to recognize where she can share her privilege with people who might need it.
Knowing this, it might be obvious that she is also such a caring, giving person to us: her family. My mother consistently (and I mean CONSISTENTLY) puts all five of us (animals included) before herself. The last to sit down, the last to eat, the last to relax, my mom is like a bee buzzing around to make sure we are all taken care of, despite her sore back and her own needs. It is always very clear that we are her life. She's not only a great mom, but our whole lives she has been working so hard to try to be the best for us. She is always trying to figure out the best way to connect with us, the things she'd like for us to learn, and wonderful things to do with us. What I love most, however, is the way we've been able to connect as friends now that I am older. My favourite times lately have been being able to have really interesting conversations about intelligent things with her. I love that we can talk about human rights and discrimination, current events, anything really, because my mom is actually quite brilliant. She's taught me the most through those talks - when she didn't even think she was.
She has been the best example that any of us could ever have dreamed of, and the saddest part is that she doesn't even know it. She is so hard on herself and doesn't understand all of the amazing ways she has shaped our lives, and the lives of people she hardly knows. I love my mom so much. She is a hilarious, smart, empathetic, giving, strong person who can talk to anyone, and I wish she knew it as much as I do. She deserves the world.
And, of course, can you believe she's 59 today?!
♥ ♥ Happy Birthday, Mom! ♥ ♥
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It sounds like you have a wonderful mother. My wife is exactly like that. We are lucky.+}+
ReplyDeleteAmazing :)
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