#SOL18 Day 29 My Mom

I always advise my student writers, "Show- don't tell." So I could tell you about my mother, but maybe this example will show you what you need to know.

On a particular day last year, I drove to my parent's house to pick up my children after work. My mom comes to my house every morning by 7:15 to help get the kids ready for school. Later, she picks up Megan at preschool and an hour later picks up Alex from his school. She watches them until I get home from work, which some days is later than I should.

 I walked in to find Megan wearing a tissue paper hula skirt, twirling around. But what's more, all of the many dolls she brought, including her stuffed animal dog Star, were sporting the same mini-versions of the pink tissue paper hula skirts. My mom was wearing her reading glasses, deep in the work of creating another hula skirt for another doll. It was a scene I will never forget.

What can you infer about my mom from this example? Would you conclude she is patient, dedicated, a little crafty? All true. Would you surmise she is dedicated to the happiness of her grandchildren? Also true. But there's so much more.

I present to you more evidence: When I come home from work, there are days where she has done ALL my laundry. When last I saw it, there were all types of clothing, socks, towels, sheets, strewn on the floor of the laundry room, waiting to be sorted, cleaned, dried, folded. But I'll come home to several neat baskets of clean, folded clothes, separated by the person who wears them. 

I couldn't do what I do or be who I am without my mom. I have sadly learned that not everyone in life appreciates me or thinks I am a person worthy of love and consideration. She does. I've learned in times of trouble, not everyone will have my back. She does. There can be no bigger gift than a person who is consistently on your side, no matter what. Who loves you no matter the mistakes you've made, who sees only the best in you. Who helps you whenever you need it. 

Who makes tissue paper hula skirts for your daughter and her ten favorite dolls and stuffed animals. 

I could tell you that my mom is loving, generous, fun, patient, kind, supportive, forgiving, wise and more, but dear reader, bet you knew it from the start.