Happy Mother's Day to All

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:41:00 AM EST
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It's Mother's Day.

I'm thankful my mother is still alive. Although, after 3 years in a nursing home and 5 years in assisted living before that, it's a greater struggle each year to help her enjoy this special day given her rapidly advancing dementia and the physical toll of Parkinsons's Disease. She still laughs, enjoys corned beef sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies and lights up like she won the lottery when I bring her any kind of chocolate or ice cream. She loves the white orchard plant I bring every Mother's Day and the flowers my sister sends from 2,000 miles away, as well as the nightgowns. Another of her favorites is having me read her mother's day cards aloud over and over.

Then it's time for my mother's day with the TL kid. [More...]

What's Mothers' Day without pictures of the kids who made us mothers? Here are some of my favorites of the TL kid, in chronological order, taken in Denver, Florence, Italy and New York City.

The TL kid has been on vacation this week since finding out last week he passed the Colorado Bar exam. I'll pick him up at the airport mid-afternoon and then we'll do our own celebration.

But for me, the real treat will be Monday morning, when I go with him to the Colorado Supreme Court and watch him get sworn in as a lawyer -- a criminal defense lawyer -- and then in the afternoon, when I'll sit in the back of the courtroom watching him make his first court appearance with a client accused of committing a crime. If I get through both of those with no more than a tear or two, I'll be in good shape.

Sunday and Monday nights, I'll be back here blogging.

I hope your mother's day is less bitter-sweet than mine with my mother and as fulfilling as mine with my son. I'm very thankful that both my mother and son are here. As we age, this holiday takes on a greater significance each year.

Happy Mother's Day to all TalkLeft readers and thank you for choosing to make us part of your day. Special Happy Mothers Day wishes to Hillary, Mrs. Rodham and Chelsea and to Michelle Obama and her daughters and to mothers and their sons and daughters everywhere.

And for our male readers, don't forget to call your mom. It wouldn't be Mothers Day for them without at least hearing your voice.

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Happy Mother's Day to All | 49 comments (49 topical)

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Jeralyn I met you and your kid in NYC 2004 (5.00 / 8) (#1)
by catfish on Sun May 11, 2008 at 04:29:35 AM EST

during the RNC convention week. My friends and I sat to your left at the Lewis Black comedy event, you and kid were sitting with some "A-listers" like Yglasias lol :)

You introduced yourself and your kid. I thought at the time - but you two are the same age?

Happy Mother's Day.

Well, TLkid is (5.00 / 9) (#2)
by magisterludi on Sun May 11, 2008 at 05:56:32 AM EST

one chronological good looker. Had to be said.

But if he's anything like his mom, and i bet there are some common traits, he's grown to be a good and sincere adult. Happy Mother's Day!

I'm making dinner for my extended family. Grilled saddle of lamb, mushroom and pepper risotto, roasted cauliflower, something with artichokes, and salad. Dessert is zuccotto with fresh raspberries.

We built her a trellis of black bamboo we harvested from the backyard. She'll be thrilled it's beautiful, but what really gets her going is that it cost us nothing but time. She's so proud I'm the "sensible" child (I'm actually pretty much a tightwad, just like Mom, ha!).

Happy Mother's Day, all! (5.00 / 9) (#3)
by stillife on Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:31:22 AM EST

I was up way late last night yakking with my son Nick and his best friend David. It was extremely refreshing to talk with two young men (22 years old) who are in the Obama demographic but are Hillary supporters and are acutely aware of the misogynistic media coverage.

I guess I should've known my son wouldn't fall for the Obama hype - he's always hated Starbucks and is the anti-latte liberal. ;) I have to say that I cracked up when the conversation drifted from politics to gossiping about people we have known in the past (the boys have been friends since kindergarten) and David would say dismissively, "Probably an Obama supporter!"

Today I'm going to do some gardening and call my Obama-lovin' mom. In honor of Mother's Day, I will not say anything snarky to her and I'll ignore the snide e-mail she sent me last week about Hillary. We love to argue about politics in my family, but this election year is sorely testing the limits of tolerance.

Congratualtions Jeralyn! (5.00 / 10) (#4)
by barryluda on Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:37:04 AM EST

You are understandably proud. I think your son is making a wonderful choice in becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

After a 20 year career as a corporate lawyer (Sidley Austin) then as an entrepreneur and business man (LexisNexis bought my company a few years ago), I'm leaving the corporate world to try to enter the courtroom for the first time in my life.

First, I'm off to NITA's two week boot camp in trial advocacy. Then, hopefully, I can persuade someone to hire me as a public defender or something similar. If that doesn't work then I guess I'll just hang out a shingle. I hope your son knows how lucky he is to have you as his mother.

Happy Mother's Day to all TL mothers!

Jeralyn, you must be bursting with pride (5.00 / 8) (#5)
by chancellor on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:25:35 AM EST

I think it's the ultimate compliment when a child chooses the same profession as one of her/his parents. Happy Mother's Day.

: Well, my kid borke my heart already. (5.00 / 10) (#11)
by Fabian on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:13:21 AM EST

"I don't want to be like you, Mom."
"I want to be like a teacher."
The translation from a six year old with a serious speech delay:
"I want to be a teacher when I grow up!"
Which is an enormous compliment to his two teachers(mainstream and special ed), one teacher's assistant, his speech therapist, his occupational therapist and his physical therapist.
And yeah, he loves me too. He just thinks his teachers are really great. They are.

Happy Mother's Day All (5.00 / 8) (#6)
by Militarytracy on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:26:25 AM EST

It's beautiful in Alabama this morning. The front of our house is full of night blooming jasmine and gardenias and it smells heavenly every Mother's Day.

Bittersweet is right (5.00 / 12) (#7)
by kempis on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:31:50 AM EST

Got teary about your mom (and mine, who died two years ago) but I completely understand how wonderful it is to make an ailing Mom smile....Mine had a stroke that paralyzed her right side for the last three years of her life, but fortunately she never suffered from dementia and she was from hearty, fightin', Smokey Mtn. stock, so she had the mental sharpness necessary to fight back as much as she could from the stroke and lived here with me until her amazing heart finally gave out. I was lucky that my teaching schedule allowed me to be here with here most of the time. (Thank goodness for Distance Learning.)

Mom gave me an extraordinary final gift: watching someone determined to live as fully as possible as age and impending death pressed down on her. She enjoyed the dog, the birds, the flowers, and stayed glued to CNN, keeping up with stocks (which she didn't own) and politics, hating Bush with a burning passion she usually reserved for Crimson Tide opponents....

She practiced writing her name over and over for weeks before the 2004 election so that she could sign her mail-in ballot herself and vote against George Bush. (She was born in 1919--a year before women could vote in this country.) And one morning after the election, I was combing her hair and we had CNN on as usual. We were both depressed. The talking head was saying something about Dick Cheney, and my semi-Victorian old Southern mother, who hated "ugly words," said in a slightly stroke-slurry voice: "Dick Cheney is an a**h*le," a word she had never used in her 80+ years. Once the shock wore off, I completely doubled over laughing and she cracked up, too. Did us both good.

I miss her. I have no doubt that she'd be for the stronger candidate.....

Jeralyn, your son is lovely. (I'm a "retired lesbian" without children--but I'm mama to a dog and birds and feral cats. :) ) Clearly you're a good daughter and a good mother. The older I get the more I value those roles. Being a good [insert family role] may be the most important (and challenging) role in our lives. Happy Mother's Day.

: Your mom was magnificent. (5.00 / 5) (#14)
by Maria Garcia on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:39:03 AM EST

: can you retire (5.00 / 9) (#21)
by Kathy on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:21:06 AM EST

from being a lesbian? I hope you still manage it as a hobby! :-)
Thanks to the anonymity of the net, I can say that I'm a semi-orphan here. My mom passed away when I was young, but I always call my dad on mother's day because he took up the slack big time. The first Tuesday of every month, he took off work and came to school to have lunch with me. This was wonderful when I was in third grade and he sat at the table with his knees above his ears, not so much when I was thirteen and I just glowered at him over my pizza and corn. He bought extra sets of my schoolbooks so he could go over my assignments with me when he was on the road. Every boy who wanted to go on a date with me had to ask him first (haha, that's probably why I started dating girls). I remember around the time all my friends started hating their mothers, I wished that I had a mother to hate. Now, I think I'm really lucky because the memory of who she was those few years I had her are unspoiled by tantrums and the oft-bandied "I hate you!" of my friends. All I could say was that my dad was a real mother!
Being a single parent is probably the hardest job on earth, and my hat is off to those who managed to do it. Jeralyn, you should be so proud of your son and all your accomplishments.

: Hehheh. Mine, too (5.00 / 3) (#44)
by gyrfalcon on Sun May 11, 2008 at 12:10:27 PM EST

My life-long lefty mother passed away a couple of years ago and was not in great shape cognitively in her last years, but she, too, hated Dick Cheney with a passion that surpasses even mine. She woke up terrifly frightened from a bad nightmare one morning, and the nightmare consisted of Dick Cheney chasing her around the woods with a big knife. Hee-hee!
She had her last illness not long after rumors were thick and heavy on the Internet that Cheney might be indicted in Plame-gate, and that possibility perked up her spirits and gave her more delight than just about anything else. I only wish she'd stuck around long enough to hear about him shooting that guy in the face.

I know your situation-- (5.00 / 8) (#8)
by Molly Pitcher on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:52:46 AM EST

My mon was given a drug that caused dementia, and the drug to keep her somewhat sane gave her Parkinson's. I guess the part that caused the most tears with laughter was when I had to convince her that mice were not laying eggs in her mattress. I saw plenty of Parkinson's plus dementia when my husband was in the nursing home.

This too will pass: when my sister and I talk about mom, we somehow never seem to recall those last years.

Your son is one good-looking high achiever, and, yes, there may be a tear or two in court. S'okay!
And just think, you've laid up a store of good examples for him on how to honor you if (heaven forbid!) you ever get old and loopy (like me?)

Happy Mothers day all (5.00 / 7) (#9)
by MichaelGale on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:04:12 AM EST

Congratulations also Jeralyn and TLKid.

Happy Mother's Day, All (5.00 / 8) (#10)
by JavaCityPal on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:06:05 AM EST

Some years Mother's Day comes with special pride. Jeralyn, this one must be one of those for you with the exceptional milestone your son has reached. Congratulations to both of you.

Mine, too, is wedged between two other mother's: my own, and my daughter. I'm starting with brunch at one of the nicer waterfront locations with my daughter, son-in-law, 6 month old grandson, my son and his girlfriend, and my SIL's parents. I raised my children alone, so it comes as no surprise to me that they are both Hillary supporters who openly advocate for her and convert their undecided friends. Then, I'll stop at my parent's house to have some quiet time with my mom and dad. That's always a challenge with 5 of us (4 still local) trying to schedule some time.

It's a very special day. Rather cold weather in Seattle for mid-May, but filled with warm hearts all day. My daughter's first Mother's Day is truly the highlight this year.

Happy Mother's Day to all :)

Jeralyn's Mothers Day greeting (5.00 / 9) (#12)
by noholib on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:21:09 AM EST

Dear Jeralyn,

Thank you for your very humane and loving remarks today. Many of us do have elderly ailing parents as well as growing children. Really a pleasure to read something so positive today --especially after this morning's NY Times (MoDo is a complete idiot today, sorry to inject negativity).

Again, thank you!

Happy Mothers Day Jeralyn and all! (5.00 / 7) (#13)
by athyrio on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:34:02 AM EST

My mom is gone now for a number of years, but my daughter and granddaughters are in South Dakota so that is always a joy to chat with them....I am planning on going there on Tuesday for overnight if I am strong enough for the excursion....(It is 180 miles each way)....Also here in Montana, my hubby and I are planning on voting early for Hillary....I have no clue how Montana will vote but keep in mind that republicans can effortly cross over and vote for Obama as we all just register in this state and don't have to designate a party....but in the general, Montana is republican....so a win here for Obama means nothing in the general....

Moms, without them we do not exist. (5.00 / 10) (#15)
by Saul on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:47:18 AM EST

Where would we be without our moms. We take them for granted sometimes, but not today. I wish my mother was here today to tell her how much I love her. Every day is Mother's day and we need to show our love to them more frequently. Happy Mother's day mom, I love you.

Happy Mothers Day Jeralyn and alll.... (5.00 / 8) (#16)
by Maria Garcia on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:49:03 AM EST

...and especially to Hillary. I hope she has a great day. My mother is in Chicago and I am here in Baltimore. I always send her flowers and balloons but lately when I call her she doesn't seem to know quite who I am. I guess its early dementia but it could just be that she hates to wear her hearing aids and can't really hear what I am saying. Sometimes I want to go and get her and bring her here with me but I know that would be selfish and would only disrupt the little security that she still feels. She's attached her entire sense of security to the proximity of my older brother, and even though that's a burden to him that I would gladly lift, when we've tried it she is so unhappy that we all can't bear it.

But my kids are great, I love them so. My daughter in California got up at 6 am to call me this morning and wish me Happy Birthday. That's an incredible effort for her on a Sunday morning!

Have you tried those loud phones? (5.00 / 2) (#30)
by BarnBabe on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:32:01 AM EST

Apparently she can hear the ring. My one Aunt who was living with me had a very bad hearing problem and wouldn't wear the hearing aid. So I got her a Radio Shack phone that had a very high volume and very loud ring. She could hear perfectly on it. She passed away last year and a few weeks ago, my phone on my PC desk gave out. (Not the original AT&T Western Electric phones that were indestructible.)I hooked up my Aunt's phone and I jump a mile every time it rings. Also, hopefully your Mom is not using a cordless phone as they seem to have more trouble on them also. Good luck.


No, she just has a regular phone.... (5.00 / 2) (#33)
by Maria Garcia on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:46:53 AM EST

...that's a great suggestion. I think I'll send her one as a present.


: The one I have (5.00 / 3) (#47)
by BarnBabe on Sun May 11, 2008 at 12:21:33 PM EST

It has a volume control on the hand set that you can adjust easily with your index finger while talking. And a cordless will get misplaced a lot of times. I have 8 phones in my house (2 cordless) because I do not want to have to run and trip over a dog or cat. My 4 kids so to speak on this Mothers Day. They like underneath my feet. Happy Mothers Day.

Happy Mother's Day to all - (5.00 / 7) (#17)
by Anne on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:54:57 AM EST

Every day really is Mother's Day when you see your kids growing into fine young adults, making good choices, adding something good to the world instead of something not-so-good.

I am lucky to have my own mother - who is happily ensconced in a nearby retirement community where she is busier than ever. We will pick her up and take her to our son-in-law's parents' house for an always-fun gathering. My married daughter is lucky to have in-laws who treat her like the daughter they never had - and my husband and I consider them our friends, too. Younger daughter has a wonderful boyfriend who may one day be son-in-law #2. Both girls will be there, as will my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. And the 3-week old orphan kitten my daughter and son-in-law are mothering!

My contribution is strawberry pie - which I need to get busy with, so...

Enjoy your day. Love your kids. Let them love you. Accept their thanks for all you do - and you know you do a lot! Be thankful for the gifts you received from your own mother that made you the good mother you are. If you are alone, or missing your Mom, or wishing you had been a better child or a better mother, be kind to yourself. We don't come into this world knowing what to do, and if we haven't learned as much as we could have, or maybe learned the wrong lessons, we still have the opportunity to be better people, to let go of old hurts and forgive ourselves and those who hurt us without knowing it.

Hug your mom - hug your kids - be proud.

And have fun!

To all the moms.... (5.00 / 9) (#18)
by kdog on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:03:24 AM EST

a very Happy Mothers Day.

My moms is the matriarch of the family now, she wil have 15 of us between kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids keeping her wine glass full today.

I don't know where mt family would be without here, she was always the rock holding it together during hard times. A more unselfish, selfless human being I have never known...I'll make sure she knows how much I love and appreciate her today. I have been truly blessed to have been born to such a solid family, and it all starts with moms.

Happy Mother's Day! (5.00 / 8) (#19)
by Burned on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:04:22 AM EST

I woke up to a huge vase of sunflowers that somehow got into my room without waking me up.
My daughter who graduates from high school in two weeks is off to college soon, armed with a tenacity that surpasses mine, the second highest GPA in her school and an armful of scholarships.
My son the future rock star just yesterday arranged for his 50 hours of court ordered community service with less than a month to go and a full time job. I have no doubt that he will screech to the finish line with seconds to spare. He has chosen an animal shelter. He loves the dogs and will love his service.

If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have a clue how our court system works. :)

I love my children, and I thank them (or will, at 2 or 3 this afternoon when they get up) for adding so much more to my life than I would have had without them. I am so proud of who they are.

What wonderful curls! (5.00 / 6) (#20)
by DJ on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:17:20 AM EST

My four year old has those curls.
Watching my kids grow up so fast makes me love my mother that much more. It's a painful thing being a parent, wanting so much for your children, all the worrying. But there is nothing sweeter or more joyful.

Happy Mother's Day (5.00 / 6) (#22)
by mjames on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:30:19 AM EST

Happy Mother's Day, Jeralyn - and thank you for a lovely post.
It was only a few years ago that I watched my daughter get sworn in as an attorney out here in California (where I am also a member of the bar), and it is a wonderful feeling. I will spend the afternoon with her, and I love her dearly.
I miss my son terribly - and I understand only too well the sadness this day evokes along with the joy.
Thank you again.

Mother's Day - Many emotions (5.00 / 7) (#23)
by Kahli on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:33:03 AM EST

Congratulations on your son's achievement.

My Mom's situation sounds similar to yours, but, there is little that brings her joy anymore. Her spirit is ready to move on, but her body won't let her.

Being 2000 miles away makes it even harder. Since I'm also 1500 miles away from my daughter, I'll be spending the day emceeing a peace rally inspired by Julia Ward Howe's 1870 call to mothers to gather together and take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace.

Life is complicated. Being a Mom is complicated. Being a daughter is complicated. Being a human is complicating.

Wishing everyone here more sweet than bitter on this day.

Happy Mother's day! (5.00 / 4) (#24)
by andgarden on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:33:37 AM EST

Happy Mother's Day (5.00 / 6) (#25)
by joanneleon on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:57:06 AM EST

to you Jeralyn, and to everyone here at TL.

Today is one of those days to remember the people and things we're grateful for, both past and present. I lost my mom this week, so it's a particularly bittersweet Mother's Day. I had her for many years, both good and bad and I have my boys, who I treasure, and who have always been so sweet on this holiday.

Best wishes and positive thoughts to all mothers and their children, in other words, to all of us.

Extra Mother's Day best wishes for you joanneleon. (5.00 / 2) (#29)
by Burned on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:31:48 AM EST

: Thanks so much (5.00 / 2) (#39)
by joanneleon on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:24:46 AM EST

for your kind thoughts and words.

Blessed Be (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by themomcat on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:32:15 AM EST

May the Goddess guise your Mother on her journey to the Summerlands. May you and your family find Peace. Blessed Be.


: How sweet (5.00 / 1) (#43)
by joanneleon on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:41:42 AM EST

and kind of you. Thank you. I am honored.

I am just grateful (5.00 / 6) (#26)
by sander60tx on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:57:52 AM EST

my mother and my children. My daughter's best friend's mother (also my friend) passed away in October of last year. Today must be a sad day for their family. I am just grateful to be able to spend this day with my children!

Ellen Malcolm (founder of Emily's list) wrote about how mothers never quit in this editorial in yesterday's Washington Post.

It's not surprising that low-income working women are the cornerstone of Hillary's success. Many of these women live on the edge of disaster. A pink slip, a family member's illness, a parent who can no longer live alone, a car that won't start or a mortgage rate that goes up -- all are threats that could devastate the family. And yet these women do what women have done for ages. They put on a confident face, feed their children breakfast and get them off to school. They don't quit. They suck it up and fight back against whatever life throws their way....
Hillary Clinton certainly has the right to compete till the end. But I believe Hillary also has a responsibility to play the game to its conclusion. For the women of my generation who learned to find and channel their competitiveness, for the working women who never falter in the face of pressure, for the younger women who still believe women can do anything, Hillary is a champion. She's shown us over and over that winners never quit and that quitters never win

If you haven't done so already, you can wish Hillary a happy mother's day on her web site.

Jeralyn, me too (5.00 / 8) (#27)
by Lisa on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:19:59 AM EST

Going through the same thing with my mom & Alzheimer's. My blessing is she's the sweetest mom ever and lights up at the very sight of me. And she digs ice cream, like your mom, too.

Don't want to sound preachy, but to the younger TL-ers, if you have not been spending time with your mom, whether just too busy or are mad at her about something, rethink this. The day will come when it's too late, and you will be sorry.

I learned this the hard way!

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

ps. I was at the Hillary generations event in DC this past week, and it was awesome - moms, daughters, little girls (and a few even stood on the tables to ask Chelsea questions) - a sea of beautiful, wonderful women! Hillary felt the love and I think it recharged her, at least a little, from the sexism and other abuse she has been facing. She's one strong woman! And has my deepest admiration.

: I really agree Lisa, (5.00 / 2) (#35)
by Maria Garcia on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:52:09 AM EST

...I did put in the time with my mom up until I moved from Chicago to the DC area 20 years ago. I haven't been able to see her as much then but she always came and spent at least a month with me until now she seems just too confused to travel much. I wish I could see her everyday but the one thing I am thankful for is that I spent so much time with her whenever I could, when she was still vibrant, although a pain in the ass as all moms can seem to be when you are younger. I could have let all her criticisms of me and my life choices keep me away from her. I saw many of my friends break with their families over such things. In the end I put up with the nagging and the quarrels because it was a small price to pay for the hugs and the love.

Happy Mother's Day (5.00 / 5) (#28)
by Athena on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:30:02 AM EST

Happy Mother's Day to you Jeralyn and all here.

Thanks for hosting a space where the first mother with a chance to become President is treated with respect.

Happy Mothers' Day (5.00 / 3) (#31)
by themomcat on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:35:31 AM EST

Blessed Be. Jeralyn, thank you so much for sharing your time for this site, for your work as a lawyer, your incite as a woman and the window into your private life that has inspired you. May the Goddess bless you and your family. May She grant you health, contentment and, most of all, Peace. On this 100th Anniversary of Mothers' Day, Blessed Be.

A Happy and Blessed Mothers'Day to All (5.00 / 3) (#32)
by themomcat on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:36:34 AM EST

Happy Mother's Day (5.00 / 5) (#34)
by Stellaaa on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:49:49 AM EST

I just heard on the radio that Mother's Day was started by a woman from West Virginia. When she saw it got commercialized she wanted to eliminate it. I am glad it was not eliminated. People don't have to celebrate it commercially.

We used to write letters to our mother and read poems.

My mother would have been 99 this year. She was an amazing woman. Grew up in luxury and then saw her world collapse when we had to leave Egypt, coming to America her life was completely different, yet she kept her optimism, kindness and generosity. She spoke and read five languages, could knit and crochet like a fiend, her cooking was beyond this world. She raised four sons and me, the only daughter.

I was thinking as a mother what is it that we want from our children.

I have settled on three things that I think make me happy.

First that they are ethical human beings. That they don't consider their privileges in life entitle them to anything more than others and that they are kind and generous.

Second that they have a work ethic. Willing to work when the circumstances are hard and willing to pay for their own way in life. Finding something that they are passionate about in that work.

Finally, that they be polite. Being polite I think are a way of loving others that you do not know. and love is the ultimate virtue. Politeness is not not hypocritical nor contrived.

My Mother would have loved this election (5.00 / 4) (#36)
by BarnBabe on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:06:41 AM EST

She was so political and a great Democrat. She was a great role model and a very beautiful woman. She was a Woman's Club President, a Mrs. City, a artist, a song writer with a fantastic voice, a PTA Mom, a PBS station board member, a quiz show contestant, a Real Estate Broker and the most popular woman in the room. Her biggest regret, she had to quit school at 13 and go to work to support the family during the depression. She later took secretarial classes and pole vaulted into the world. Every election she and my Dad were at the local courthouse awaiting election results. She was strict but generous. She always had CNN on and watched the OJ trial minute to minute. She would call me at work with the latest headline news. She was amazing although she drove me nuts quite a few times. I miss her dealy.

My Mother had a loud whisper. Older people voice their opinion a lot. I remember how embarrassed I was when at the Doctor's office she leaned over and whispered, "That lady is really fat". It echoes around the entire room. And she always had a support garment on. So one day we are in a mattress store and the elastic in her pants gave out and they fell down. She looked up, laughed, and said, Opps. I rushed over and pulled them up. The Middle Eastern salesman was so startled he left. No mattress that day. When my Mother died, I told my brother I wanted to forget any bad things (There are always a few bad disagreements)and we remember all the good times. Her mind was sharp but eventually the body forced a need for a nursing home. That lasted 5 weeks and I swear my Mother didn't fight on because it was costing $4300 a month and she did not want to spend our inheritance. Each year on her birthday, my brother(who is 3000 miles away)and I share a glass of wine together and send a toast to our Mom and celebrate her life.

Pants falling down! (none / 0) (#46)
by gyrfalcon on Sun May 11, 2008 at 12:20:13 PM EST

Your mother sounds a lot like mine. Last time in her life I took her to the dentist, we were slowly walking back to the car down a side street, she with her walker but managing, and her slacks just slid right over her flat bottom down to her knees. She stopped, I wrestled the pants back up and held them up for her to be sure as we made our way the last bit to the car, both of us laughing so hard we almost didn't make it. I thought she'd feel humiliated to have that happen, but she didn't, she thought it was hysterically funny.


: And it brings smiles to your heart (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by BarnBabe on Sun May 11, 2008 at 01:06:50 PM EST

When you think of that. I remember looking eyes to the heavens, shoulders sagging and sighing as I rushed over to her. But I also remember us laughing so loud and so long. That poor salesman was horrified. Luckily I had a safety pin. LOL right now. Happy Mothers Day.

Happy Mother's Day to all! (5.00 / 3) (#37)
by RalphB on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:09:56 AM EST

Happy Mother's Day (5.00 / 3) (#38)
by democrat1 on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:13:22 AM EST

to you Jeralyn and all the other mothers here.

Congratulations and all the best to your son and you for raising such a nice kid

Darn you Jeralyn, (5.00 / 2) (#41)
by CHDmom on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:34:01 AM EST

You have me sitting here blubbering. I don't post much but wanted to say how much this touched me. I can imagine how proud you will be watching TLkid this week. My son just turned 20 and has had 7 heart surgeries and takes it all in stride and sometimes when I watch him, it feels like my heart is ready to burst thru my chest with pride and Love.
I'm sorry your Mom isn't doing well, but happy for you both she can still light up with joy. Have a wonderful week and to all Moms here I wish you a wonderful day, You have no idea just how I stop here to keep my sanity the past couple months, well to prove I am NOT the one nuts. Lyn

What a gorgeous guy (5.00 / 2) (#42)
by andrys on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:34:16 AM EST

and he seems to have your work-related genes as well as the other !

Go ahead and let some tears flow. It's really good for the immune system! and you've got such excellent reasons for this happier form of crying. Love the description of what makes your mom light up; I share her reaction to the chocholate and ice cream!

My mom died at 44 so I'm totally with you on your advice to let them know you remember.

Mother's Day plea (5.00 / 2) (#45)
by Tobytaz1960 on Sun May 11, 2008 at 12:14:46 PM EST

Keith Heidtman was killed on Memorial Day 2007.
This is his mother's first mothers's day without him. Pleae read the open letter "He Was Killed on Memorial Day 2007 at:

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-19260

Please ask others to read it as well

Happy Mothers Day! (none / 0) (#49)
by otherlisa on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:38:19 PM EST

And thanks to everyone here who shared their wonderful stories.