Leaving My Legacy

 

Each mother/grandmother figures out the art of being mom/grandmother in her own way, influenced by her own relatives, by everything external. But something also comes from inside, an invisible knowing and guide that teaches her how to add her own flavor and style in what she brings into her children's lives. I've wanted to write down big and little pieces of what I remember during those years raising my sons, and those things I share with my granddaughter (and future grandchildren). In this blog I'm going to be supporting the theme of my children's book "Unstoppable, Unbreakable Hearts". I'll share recipes, stories, creative parenting solutions, common frustrations, things I've found along the way.

Too often, as moms, we find fault and put ourselves down for not doing enough, not being enough, not trying harder, etc. I did that for years, especially after my oldest son made the choice to separate himself from me in his need to live life according to his own truth. Something I've had a hard time wrapping my brain around, but something I admire in him. He's standing in his own belief system, strongly as a man, doing his best. I commend him and respect him, even though I hope someday life spins itself around us both and brings us back together so we can build more memories and more laughter.

After year upon year of finding fault, of feeling "failure", I realized something. I was a good mom. In fact, out of all the people I know in this world, I would label very VERY few women "bad" mothers. Sure, we fall, we falter, we doubt, we trip up, we yell when we should keep quiet, we stay awake when we should sleep, we make mistakes along the way, but we're all valiant in our efforts. So this blog also commends who we are 24/7. Human. Frail. Yet strong and able to overcome time after time, not only things out of our control, but our own self criticisms. I hope you enjoy the journey with me. And find some little red threads that tie all our hearts together and make us realize we each impact one another's children. We make this life better or worse for one another. We hold each other's hearts.

 

While bouncing child on your knee, first verse slowly and rhythmically, second verse quickly and bouncy:

 

 

"This is the way the lady rides...

Slo-ooo-ooow and steady,

Slo-ooo-ooow and steady.

 

This is the way the doctor rides....

Rough and ready,

Rough and ready!!!"

~learned from Grandma Jean