My Mother

With Mothers Day just a few days away, I have been thinking about what to get my mom. My usual is a plant. Who doesn't love to have a new flowering plant in the spring? Perhaps I could buy her some candy. She likes licorice. Must be her Finnish heritage. She's 100% Finnish. I'm only half. When I was a kid, I thought it was really cool that my mom is 100% something. I still do.

She's also 100% something else. She's 100% great as a mom. I'm not going to say she is perfect as humans go - nobody is. I'm not going to say she didn't have shortcomings and never made me mad, sad, or frustrated. She did. But she is, in my opinion, the best mom I could have hoped for.

My mother never made me feel as if I wasn't enough. That is a rare find in this world. The thing is, though, I didn't find her. She's a gift. She was given to me as my mother and if I had the choice, I wouldn't change her for all the gold in the world. I'd rather be poor with my mom than rich with another.

If this sounds a little Pollyanna to you, well - too bad. I didn't always feel this way. I had my years of blaming my mom for some things and focusing on her flaws over what a blessing she had been in my life. When I was a teen and I'd get ready for some party or event, she always said I looked "fine." It made me crazy. I wanted "great" or "beautiful." But, right or wrong, she said "fine."

When I had my own daughter and she offered me a spot of criticism, I just about went off the deep end. I don't even remember what the circumstances were. Most likely it was something I needed to hear.

But my mom has a quality that I have needed most in my life, to love me unconditionally. She loved me when I disobeyed her. She loved me when I hurt her with my snotty, teenager words. She loved me when I forgot how special she is. She loved me when I acted as if I knew so much more than her (I never have and I doubt I ever will). She just loves me.

What about your mom? She isn't perfect either. She makes mistakes. But look beneath the human flaws we all carry around and you will see the things she has done to make the world a better place for you.

ENCOURAGEMENT: Thank your mom for something you have never thanked her for before. If your mom is gone, thank someone who has stood in her place.