Happy Mother's Day

Mother’s Day. The day we celebrate the person who wipes our tears, cheers for us when we need it, and loves us unconditionally. While many of us celebrate our mothers on this day, it's also about recognizing and appreciating all the remarkable women in our lives.

I am fortunate to have many wonderful women who “mother” me. They all have very different personalities but the common thread is they are strong independent women: Steel Magnolias if you will.

Some of those women aren’t with us anymore but the lessons they taught me will live on forever. Grandmother, as I called her, taught me grit and determination. That sounds better than hardheaded! Mrs. Elsie, my mama’s best friend, taught me to love Battenburg lace, sweet tea, an “Elsie clean” house, and grace when you endure great loss.

“Gege” is one of my biggest cheerleaders; well...actually majorette. I so wanted to wear her white boots! She is witty, fiercely loyal to her family, and can cook a mean rice and gravy. I don’t have many memories that she isn’t a part of.

Aunt Margaret is who I would want to be with if I was lost in the woods. She is MacGyver. I’m pretty sure I won’t ever get lost in the woods as I’m not that “outdoorsy” but if I was...

Aunt Margaret is strong. Wise. And her laugh reminds me of my Dad.

But y'all no one is like my sweet Mama. Six years ago I was newly divorced and trying to figure out where my life was going...do we ever really know? Anyway, I wrote a book of sorts and thanked “my people” who had helped me through one of the hardest times in my life. My Mama was at the top of that list. Here is what I wrote...

This thank you wouldn't be complete without my Mama. If you are reading this, you know my Mama and probably love her almost as much as I do. I don't really think there are enough words to say how incredibly blessed I am with such a great mother.

No one has ever been more supportive of me than my Mama. She is the only person I can depend on to love me on my best days and on my worst days. there have been some really bad days this past year and she was right there with me every step of the way.

My parents divorced when I was young. I never saw them fight or argue. I never heard them say an unkind word about each other. I did see a mother who did what she had to do to start over and raise her daughter. I hope I can follow in her footsteps on my journey. Her size 5 shoes will be hard to fill.

I never really gave much thought to what going through a divorce was like for her. I had a great life growing up. I didn't see her struggles. But this year has given me a greater appreciation for what she went through.

My Mama has been the best role model I could ever ask to have. If I live to be a hundred. I don't think I will be as good of a mom as she has been. But I'm sure going to try.

I love that my friends love my Mama like I do. Rarely, I go somewhere that someone doesn't ask about her.

Not only have I been blessed, but Nicholas hit the lottery with Mimi. Watching the two of them melts my heart. He is spoiled. I admit it. At the end of the day, he will look back and remember that she spoiled him with love and affection. Okay, he will probably also remember all the "stuff" she has given him as well. Every boy should be so lucky to have a Mimi.

For as long as I can remember my Mama has said, "Everything happens for a reason." Sometimes I agreed and a lot of times I rolled my eyes when she said this. This year, I think I lived it. While I still question some of the reasons, I believe I will have clarity one day. I hope sooner rather than later.

Mimi, Mama, Maran, Joan, Joanie, Mrs. Price. Doesn't matter what you call her. She is the epitome of what love should be. the only child in me is glad I'm the only one who gets to call her Mama.

Thank you for showing me what unconditional love is. Oh, and thank you for not walking naked on River Road .{a story for another time!}

I haven’t read this in a long time and EVERYTHING about my Mama is still true today x 10. But I am thankful to see the growth in myself and how far I have come in 6 years. I am truly at a point of rebranding at midlife and can’t wait to see where the next 6 years take me.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas and those who do good “mothering.” You are the original superheroes!

With humor and hot flashes,