June 5, 2021. Almost the whole family, home for Matt & Marti’s wedding.[/caption]

What is a mom? That’s a huge question for a lot of us. We all see life from different perspectives. I’d like to think I have been a good mom, but man, have I messed up a lot of things. I have amazing kids, which helps. But I have not often reacted to questions with a thoughtful ear. I have not always answered with a kind voice. I get hectic. A lot. I mean really hectic. In the last few years I have focused on all I have messed up, in hopes of somehow making it up to them. I don’t know if it will ever happen, but I’m willing to give it my best try and keep trying to be a better person tomorrow and the next day, to answer for the times when I was not at my best. Right now, I feel like I am at my best. That’s something, at least.

That brings me to my own mom. Mine, thankfully, is still alive and I get to see her in a few weeks. I also get to see my sister and brother, as well as my dad. All at once. A few of my kids will be there, as well as my niece and her kids. I will also see my brother and his wife. A mini family reunion that some of us can make it to.

Growing up, my mom was busy. There were four of us until I was 13, then there were three. Then my family went through grief for many years. And I’m not really sure if we ever came out of it completely. But I know my mom (and dad) did an absolutely amazing job, despite the pain we lived through together. And my mom has always been a good listener (far better than I am). And she has worked hard all of her life. While she is retired, she really is as busy as ever. She is active in her community (we all got that call to service). My mom gardens, loves to cook, loves to walk in her neighborhood, loves spending time with her kids and grandkids and especially with my stepdad Bruce and their dog Arthur.

My mom supported everything I did. She would show up at the horse shows and gymkhanas. She made sure we had everything we needed. She drove us all over the place. She participated in school functions, kept me going to church when I could, was on the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce for years and always had a thumb on what we were doing. She didn’t react with anger, only kindness, when we did something stupid. And we did some pretty stupid things. Yet, through it all, she was there to support us and help us find ways to make better decisions.

It’s hard sometimes to have most of my family so far away, but I am thankful for the time they lived here and were part of our daily lives. I’m thankful I got an amazing mom.

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