Memories of My Mother
May 9, 2010 by Lillie
Today on Mother’s Day, I’m remembering my mother. She departed this earth for Heaven nearly seven years ago, but I still miss her.
She was born in California, where her parents were migrant workers. Her family lived in migrant camps with people who were all poor and mostly minority. She was comfortable with diversity long before it became a buzzword. As a teenager, she moved to Utah to live with her grandmother after the death of her grandfather.
She and Daddy met when he was stationed in Utah during World War II, and she moved to Texas to marry him when he came home from the war. She left her family and became part of his, gave up her Mormon religion and joined the Methodist Church my father attended.
For the nearly fifty years of their marriage, they lived on the farm where my father had been born and would eventually die. Mama was a good farm wife and wonderful mother to her six children.
Both of my parents always put their kids first and supported us in everything we did—driving to football games to watch the girls march in the band or the boys play football, going to dances to hear my brother play drums in a Western band, attending school plays and concerts, and cheering us on in all our activities.
They were strict disciplinarians and expected us to do well in school. Seeing the look of disappointment on their faces when I did something wrong was worse punishment than a spanking.
After my youngest sister entered school, Mama took a training course to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). She was an excellent nurse, showing the same love and attention to her patients as she did to her family.
Mama was quiet and unassuming, but she also enjoyed a good laugh. She had a little pillow on her favorite chair embroidered with the words: “My family tree is full of nuts.” All of those nuts found a sympathetic ear and wise counsel whenever they went to Mama for advice or help.
After they raised her family, Mama and Daddy raised four more children. They treated the two grandchildren and their half siblings who had no blood or legal relationship to my parents exactly like they had treated their own children. From time to time, they took in other children who were having problems.
Daddy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s shortly after my sister and I went on a fabulous cruise with my parents. Mama spent the next seven years or so caring for him. She was in poor health herself so had to have help. My siblings and nieces and nephews and I helped, but eventually she had to put him in a nursing home for advanced medical care. The nearest facility that could handle his needs was more than fifty miles away from the farm. Mama could no longer drive; someone drove her to visit Daddy two or three times a week, even after he no longer knew her. She cared for him until the day he died, then she spent the remaining eight years of her life showering her love and care on the rest of the family.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mama. I miss you!
she sounds like an extraordinary woman.
Chelle
http://ChelleCordero.com
.-= Chelle Cordero´s last blog ..Blog Jog Day =-.
Yes, she was, Chelle. I’m glad to share a little about her on my blog.
I love spending some time looking at my grandmothers picture wall, because there are so many neat pictures of her, my grandfather, and my family. They remind me a lot of the pictures you shared. Sadly, my grandfather died a few years after I was born, so I never really got to know him…
.-= Steve@Lift Chairs´s last blog ..Understanding Senior Arthritis =-.
Steve,
It’s a shame you didn’t get to know your grandfather, but I hope your grandmother and parents told you stories about him. My grandfather died when I was twelve. He was a cowboy and used to tell wonderful stories of his experiences. However, no one ever wrote them down, and after he died, they were all lost.
I just read this statement from a social networking site that says, “A woman can be a mother even without a husband. A woman can still be a mother even if she doesn’t love her husband. And a woman can still be a mother even if she doesn’t have her own child. But a woman can’t be a real mother if she doesn’t know to love.”
Your mother was a real mother…my mother too. And hopefully, I am too.
Ron,
That’s a beautiful and true comment. May we all know how to love like a mother!
what a beautiful tribute!
Thank you, MissV.
I dont want to even think about the day I lose my Mom but Im sure she is looking down on you and keeping an eye on you. God Bless
Thank you, Matt.
Lillie, this is a lovely tribute to your mother, and I enjoyed reading it. It made me think of my own mom, who has passed on. My mom came from humble beginnings, too.
I love your family photo!
.-= Deb S´s last blog ..We’re on the move with a new logo =-.
Deb,
It sounds like we were both blessed with wonderful, loving mothers that we still miss.
You wrote a lovely tribute to your mother. In fact, you have a lovely blog all round. To read my own post on Mother’s Day go to this link :
http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2010/05/happy-mothers-day.html
Have a beautiful week, Roland
.-= Roland D. Yeomans´s last blog ..A MOTHER’S DAY GIFT TO MY FRIENDS =-.
Thank you, Roland. I enjoyed your Mother’s Day post as well.
Reading your post made me think about my own mother and the little time we spend together! definitely i am going to visit her more often, so I don’t regret it later!:)
Jenny,
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and think we have plenty of time to spend with loved ones. You’re wise to realize now that you want to spend more time with your mother before it’s too late.
Your mother was a brave women. Guess what we cry to make our heart feel lighter rite? But our heart is filled with love for our loved ones. So that means if you cry you’re loosing the love from your heart which belongs to your mom. So, don’t cry remembering her. Just cherish all the moments you spent with her.
Robert,
I do cherish my memories. That’s why I had to smile when I wrote the part about her pillow about the family tree filled with nuts.
“Both of my parents always put their kids first and supported us in everything we did”
I like this phrase.shame that some children are not respect their parents
.-= david @ best finance´s last blog ..Advanced Cleaning Methods =-.
david,
It is tragic that not only do many children not have a wonderful childhood like I did, but many have horrific experiences.
Lillie, thank you so much for sharing your memories of your wonderful mother, she truly sounds like she was a remarkable woman. I am so impressed by how farm life seems to connect people to values that matter and influences a strength of character and purpose even in adulthood. You were truly blessed and you bring honor to your parents’ legacy.
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Age of Conversation 3 – Available Now =-.
Thank you, Karen, for your beautiful words and thoughts.
Those pictures remind me of my grandma and all photos we have of her. The black and white photos show a time when things were a lot different. It seems so peaceful. I wish I could see how living during those times were like.
James,
I think people have face challenges in all generations, but we weren’t as involved in the world as kids are today.
Your mom looks great and good your mom will be touched when she will saw your post… oh it is so remarkable when our mothers leave memories in our lives… your mother will appreciate your blog very much
.-= Ben @ Sell Property Fast´s last blog ..Another Quick Property Sale =-.
Ben,
I know my mother is looking down on me from Heaven, but I’ve never quite envisioned her actually reading blog posts. Maybe she is, though.
Lillie,
Like other readers have said, your mother is a great woman.
Parents are who we came from – a part of them is invested in us, and this creates a powerful bond. I don’t think anyone, throughout their entire lives, forgets the one who patched them up when they got hurt, the one they always came to when things went wrong, and the one who was always their watching their dancing, sports or whatever.
.-= Andrew´s last blog ..BP: Gallant Effort Destroyed In Catastrophe =-.
Andrew,
Those of us with wonderful parents are so blessed. I was just in a meeting today with a couple of ladies who had very different childhood experiences.
Great and touching story. Thanks a lot for sharing. I would say that back in the old days mothers are pretty much different from today mainly because of the technology or influence of other mothers. Your mom is remarkable and you should be very proud of.
Francis,
I don’t think mothers have necessarily changed in their love for their children. However, their daily lives have certainly changed because of technology and the changing times.
Lillie,
this was a wonderful emotional tribute to your mother. You say she was a migrant worker, where was her roots and family originally from?
.-= Steve @ Playing Rock Guitar´s last blog ..Hubpage Playing Rock Guitar =-.
Steve,
Her family had been in the US for many generations, but they were poor, uneducated, and unskilled. I haven’t done any genealogical research so I don’t where they came from originally.
Its a really sad memory of your mom, im sure we all have our moms deep in our heart. Knowing that someday we will see her again.
callin,
I didn’t intend for the post to be sad. Yes, I still miss her, but I was so blessed to have her for a mother, and she is Heaven with Jesus now. How can I be sad about that?
Hey I lost my mother when I was just 3 months old. I don’t even have her memories with me. You’re lucky enough to have her with you for such long time. I don’t even had someone to call as mother from the day I started speaking.
Sam,
It must have been rough growing up without a mother. I realize how blessed I am.
What a precious memory it is.
Thanks for your heart-touching article:)
edward,
A precious memory, indeed. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
What a sweet tribute. Your mom is one amazing woman! She has lived her life fully here on earth. I know it’s so sad that she’s no longer here with the rest of your family but you are right, you are blessed that you grew up with a loving mother as compared to those whose mothers have left them at such an early age.
Thank you, Jane. I have been truly blessed.
Such a moving tribute to your mother. I am truly in awe of the way you look at things. This post has taught me to value all dear ones and cherish each moment with them.
sam recently posted..Keep your heart health in mind
sam,
My mother was very special.
[...] memories of my mother on Mother’s Day and memories of both of my parents on the fifth anniversary of my [...]
“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
Many thanks for sharing this wonderful tribute to a mother.
Alesandra @ marines costumes recently posted..Corpse Bride Halloween Costume
Alesandra,
Thank you for the lovely quote.
[...] Memories of My Mother [...]
Hi Lillie! This simple tribute to your mom moved me so much. I lost my father 13 years ago. I was a typical daddy’s girl.
I remember that one of the first things on my mind after I gave birth to my first child was how unfortunate it was that my dad and my daughter never got the chance to get to know each other. Until now, there are still moments when I wish that my 3-year-old could have another grandpa who will spoil her.
Rachel,
I’m so sorry you lost your father before you had children. It is sad your little one(s) will not k now their grandpa.
[...] Memories of My Mother [...]