I was missing my mom this morning. That’s typical of my thoughts in September. I tend to remember her more during her birthday month rather than November, the anniversary of her death. September is a month of many family birthdays and the beginning of fall, Mom’s favorite season. It also signals a brief respite before the chaos of the holidays. A good time to think of her fondly and recall some of our best times.
However much I miss talking to mom and making her laugh and showing her my flowers, I’m thankful that she isn’t here today. I said that to myself about five minutes after I turned on the news. Mom would NOT like the current climate of hatred and vindictiveness that seems to pervade our country. She would not like the depravity and perversion that is flaunted on television shows and commercials. She would not like the crime and corruption reported daily on the news. She would not approve of the way people are being treated. I can see her hitting the power button, making a cup of coffee, and going out the porch to read. Perhaps I should do that myself.
Mom understood people and accepted that they had their flaws and foibles, but she always expected better- better thoughts, better words, and certainly better actions. Just because you were born a certain way or raised a certain way didn’t mean you had to stay that way. So I seldom get away with making excuses, even to myself. In the end it’s always, “Okay, Mom. I’ll try to do better.”
Perhaps it was her early training that made her such an influence on my life and thoughts. This piece from the paper explains a lot:
The Caddo Herald
February 11, 1949
Caddo High Times
Colleen Springer of the Home Economics Department, assisted by Ella Jean Kitchens and Flodell Jackson, prepared an excellent paper on childhood relationships. The main points brought out in the paper were:
Love of parent for child.
Habits of parent influence child.
Example of older children influencing younger children.
Contrast between leniency and over indulgence.
Influence of environment.
I can tell you that she practiced what she preached. She loved me. She was a good role model. She expected me to set a good example for my brothers. She was strict, but fair. She didn’t want me hanging out in the wrong places or listening to the wrong people.
Okay, Mom…
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