In the spirit of Mother’s Day, this month we have decided to introduce you to our moms. Being a mother is perhaps the hardest, most rewarding job a woman will ever experience. We are so incredible thankful for all the moms out there who sacrifice so much for their children.
Craig
My Mom was a “product of the depression” born three weeks before the crash in 1929. The economic challenges of the times helped formulate her personal values which she relayed to her children. My Mom, like many other children at the time, were put up for adoption. She knew her parents- they just couldn’t provide for her needs. When she became a wife and mother, her family was her number one priority, to which she gave 110%, sometimes to the detriment of her physical health. My Mom did everything for us, but she gave nothing to us. if we wanted anything- we worked for it.
My Mom was one of the hardest workers I knew. She was the first one up in the morning and the last to bed. She made sure we had a good breakfast, she made our lunches, and we had a home cooked meal every evening. She did this while working full time. My Mom learned to work with very limited financial resources. My Mom was a great cook. She did not use recipes and cooked from “scratch”. It seemed like she had a magic wand and could whip up a great tasting meal with whatever was available in the fridge.
Her formal education ended in 9th grade. Her natural mathematical aptitude drew her to a career as a bookkeeper. She was very good at what she did and I’m pretty sure I got my love of numbers from her. This gift ultimately led me to work as a financial planner.
My Mom left us way too early. I hope that I can carry on her legacy of working hard, family first, living within your means, the value of education, and how to cook a good meal with what’s available. I could never thank my Mom enough for all she did.
Kim
My Mom is one of those people that makes everything “special”. She does it ALL and in a way that makes those around her feel loved and appreciated. She has many talents and interests but one that stands out is her cooking. We all have our favorites and they range from homemade pies, to soups, Chinese dinners, fried chicken, and quiche. I am so thankful and appreciative that my parents live in Madison, and not just because I get many home-cooked meals! As a Mom, she is always looking for ways to make my life a little easier. Whether it be taking my kids to all their after-school activities, making sure my flower pots are always filled, dropping off a prepared meal on a busy weeknight, or the most recent act – getting a PUPPY so my family can enjoy all the fun without the hassle! My Mom is generous, caring, thoughtful, and always helpful. For all of these reasons and more I am thankful and appreciative for her on Mother’s Day and all year round.
Terri
My mom is my best friend, and has passed so much wisdom, and many tips and traditions on to me. I especially love some of the sayings that my mom passed on to me, some of which I’m sure my own kids will remember and use with their kids someday. One of the best was, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This was probably said to me most often during my teenage years, but I still think of it sometimes now. Another one was “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I hated that saying, but have actually used it myself with my sons as teenagers! One of the really politically incorrect sayings that was passed down on my mom’s side is “You must suffer to be beautiful”. This was always said in jest, but I do remember being told this while sitting in the kitchen, trying not to gag from the smell of the home perm chemicals bagged on my head! Times have changed, but these things still pop into my head from time to time. I’m grateful to my mom for all of the things she’s shared with me over the years, and happy about all of the ways we are alike! Happy Mother’s Day!
Mark
My mother was one of the “Greatest Generation”. She was a young teenager in eastern Michigan when the Great Depression hit. She married my fly-boy father in the mid-30’s and both were forged in the fire of WWII. She had three children before and during the war and four more after the war. She was about 5’4” and had the grip of Thor. You knew when you were doing something you shouldn’t be doing just by her grip on your wrist but there was always tenderness and love in her heart. That is her greatest legacy. When in doubt about a certain action, all you had to do was ask yourself, “What would mom say?”