My Mom

One of the joys of my life is to have my mother as friend, confidante, fun-partner, shopping tetess, coach, mentor, role model, teacher, student and … mother. My mom has taught me not to be afraid of each stage in life, but simply to accept and learn from whatever each stage brings.

As early as our pre-teens, my mom taught her daughters that menstruation was a normal part of being a woman. Thus, my sister and I grew up accepting this part of our womanhood, never letting it stop us from doing anything – for that was the example my mom set.

Childbearing was a joy for both Carole and me. Both of us had joyful, healthy pregnancies and wonderful experiences with breastfeeding. Mummy was there with us every step of the way, encouraging us to enjoy the experiences and never looking at them in a negative way.

I remember Mummy telling me that her 40s were her best years – thus, I never feared that milestone, and indeed looked forward to it. BY the time I reached it, she was well into her seventies. Looking at her living her life to the fullest – traveling, volunteering, taking care of grandchildren, being a good friend to all ages – I realized that yes, 40 is great, but WOW, so is 70!

And now, as my mom looks forward to celebrating 89 wonderful years on this planet next month, this is her perspective expressed in an e-mail I received last night:

“This morning I had a good laugh at myself after getting dressed to go to Supermarket with John (Bless him). There I was: Wine red pants which were neither capri nor ankle length; undershirt with roll neck(1982 vintage)grey pullover; grey socks grinning out of the legs of the pants and black laced flat shoes. No I didn’t bother with the hair net to complete the masquerade but I did have a good laugh with and at myself giving thanks that I can see the funny side of life still and not caring what others think because I know it doesn’t matter at my age and should not have at any age either. I was warm and comfortable and I couldn’t care less. Life in the 80s can be wonderful sometimes. And you know what? My hip didn’t hurt half so bad as other days because I was free and laughing.

Love you and keep laughing.

Mummy”

“I was free and laughing” – this really struck me. I have often wondered why our physical bodies “deteriorate” as we get older – and now I know – it is to make us realize that we are more than our bodies; we are much more than our physical selves. Being free means being unattached to how we look, how others see us. When we are in that state of freedom, then our looks, our bodies don’t matter anymore – note that Mummy’s hip hurt a lot less! Our true beauty comes from within. And as we let go of the physical, our true, inner beauty shines forth. So I am sharing a photo of my mom taken 3 months ago, at a simply gorgeous, radiant 88 years old – free!

Today, I give thanks for the gift of my mom, for the gift of her teaching me to be free, for the gift of being free NOW!