As a mom goes she was top in everyone’s book!!! Everyone that met my mom always said she was wonderful and fun and always smiling. Simply the best!
So, as families go, my family is big and fun and a little bit strange. My two older brothers Mark and Kris are 17 and 15 years older than me and my sister Debbie is 10 years older than me. I came along when Mom was 39, and holy moly, 11 months later, Ty, my younger brother came into the world. Talk about Irish twins.
My older brothers were out of the house once they entered college and my sister Debbie also moved out when she started college.
When I was 5 and Ty was 4, my father Kurt left the family for another woman.
This is where my story will begin.
I will always remember our mom for what she didn’t do, which was complain. She would never complain about life and the hard times she had to endure. She lived through the depression, and World War II, and the Vietnam War, a divorce and being left to raise two small boys by herself. Yet she never complained. She did worry and struggle but she always made things feel normal for me and my brother Ty as well as for my older siblings.
As I grew older, family was everything to her. She loved the holidays, seeing everyone and being with everyone. I think it reminded her of when she was growing up and what her family had to endure. She would always say those times in her life, with all of her family around, were her favorite times.
Mom would be there for Ty and me at every event: Boy Scouts, baseball, soccer, volleyball. You name it, she was always there cheering us on, being a team mom and supporting us any way she could. I still remember the banners she made for our teams over the years. She would always invite families over to swim in the pool and have a BBQ. She always made everyone feel so comfortable. Those were the times.
When I needed mom the most she was always there for me. When my wife, Elaine, passed away she was there to help with my two small children, Erin and Shea. Somehow I feel connected to mom in this way that my brothers and sister can’t. She raised two small children by herself after a divorce and I was trying to raise two small children after a death. Somehow I felt this inner connection with her at that level. She loved those two little kids of mine so much, the mother that raised 5 children already, was there to support me in raising two more. Funny thing was she never really gave me any advice. I guess she would just show her love and provide me with love and support as I walked through this journey. I know I was learning all the time on how she helped with the children. I learned without words how to be gentle and patient. I know that was her simple gift to me and made me who I am today.
For Erin and Shea, they also learned from her how to be loving and patient young adults, which I know will carry them through life.
Mom’s influence surrounded her, you can see that in everyone that she loved and cherished, especially her family.
We are all so lucky to have been raised and nurtured by her. The truth is she left a legacy of wonderful parents and grandchildren, and great grandchildren to carry on in her way.
To be patient and loving!!
I will always miss you mom, I know you are in a better place watching over all of us. I also know that when we might be struggling in life in some way, you’ll reach out in some way. It might be a shiver that goes up our back, or a song that reminds us of you, or scent of perfume. I'll know it’s you reaching out to let us know that you are there and in our hearts, surrounding us with your love.
Thanks for being my mom, I was very lucky to have you as a mom!
