The warm water washed over me and as usual I began to think of all the things I needed to do. I also started to think of all the things I wanted to do. It was Saturday and I was told to take more time to myself. Thoughts of my family began to drift into my head. My own family. How lucky I am. My sisters, my dad and my mom. My mom….
For eight years my memories of her have brought me sadness, anger and even embarrassment. She had left this world losing her battle with depression. The years leading up to her death were more then challenging, exhausting and something daughters should never have to do. Up until last year if someone said, “Oh you remind me of your mom!” or “That reminds me so much of your mother!!” I found myself overwhelmed with anger and embarrassment.
“I was not like her!”, I would exclaim to myself.
Eight years later it is just a typical Saturday morning. I am so happy with my life, happy with myself and so happy with the mother, wife, friend and women I have become. I am strong and independent. I love my job. I get to go to work everyday and do what I have always wanted to do. My daughters are polite, articulate, creative and love life. My house is a lived in clean. The laundry is done, but not folded. The floor is scattered with toys and the markers and art work on the kitchen table always have to be cleaned up before dinner.
I am not like my mother.
Yet, still I find myself taken by the love and longing for my mother. I am finally able to get past the wall of anger. I love my mother. I miss my mother. I have always loved my mother. I hate the illness she had, I hate what it did to her. I hate what it made me have to do.
I’m not like my mother.
Today I find myself suddenly in a much different place. A place where I look back on the memories of my mom and they are fond and loving. She was the most wonderful mother. She was loving, gentle, selfless, she loved life and was passionate about being a mother. Her greatest goal in life was to raise us to be well rounded, happy, successful women. So today I find myself overwhelmingly happy to be compared to my mom. Happy to be lucky enough to have many of my moms features. Blessed to be able to share with my daughters traditions my mother gave me. Smiling that my daughter loves to have her back rubbed the same way my mom rubbed mine. Lovingly, sharing fantastic stories and memories of my mother with my daughters… and with tears in my eyes and reflecting smile I find myself thinking: I’m not my mother, but I will always be my mothers daughter.
Post inspired by writing prompt from Mama Kat’s
Not your mother’s daughter…how do you parent differently than your mother did?
Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
Beautiful and heartfelt words! Visiting from MKat!
This is a lovely telling of your story. Dealing with the loss & having the anger & overcoming it to realize how much she was to you & how much you do that reflects the good that was her – to get to this takes time. I can imagine your journey, a little bit, because of how you told it.
Beautiful! Thank you for stopping by. It is really all about perspective and time. Great post!
Beautifully written! So sorry for your loss.
Such a wonderful story. Its amazing how somethings can be so similar but others so drastically different.
Beautifully written 🙂
The description of your house sounds EXACTLY like mine! A lived-in clean. 🙂
Wonderful post.
I can so relate to your story with the acception that my mom is still alive at 81 and living with me and my family. There’s so many things I was/am embarassed about her but deep down at the core, she is a loving, gentle, generous woman and I am proud to be her daughter. I’m no where near being like her but I love her none the less.
Thanks for sharing this.
a wonderful tribute to your mother. Though you clearly had your issues you still felt the love she had for you and that you had for her.
Visiting from Mama Kat’s
This is the most beautiful post I’ve read all day. I just want to hug you. So perfect.
Oh so beautiful, Laverne. I’m so sorry for your loss, and the way you lost her. I’m glad you’re at peace with being your mother’s daughter.
Your post made me shed tears. I love how you put your feelings and emotions into words & how you paid tribute to your Mom. Very touching!
Beautiful, touching post about your Mother! Stopping by from Let’s Bee Friends!http://hungrigyrl.blogspot.com
What a beautiful post. I bet your mom would be really proud of that. 🙂
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.