I wrote this a few weeks ago when M was diagnosed with leukemia. I wanted to call it something like “What Women Do” or “What Mothers Do” but I can’t decide what to call it. Basically it is a list of things that my mother has done for me or taught me and things that I have noticed I started doing to people around me. Even though I am not a mother, I still try to take care of people around me even when I shouldn’t or don’t have to. If you have ever met my mother you know that she is one of the most generous, sincere and friendliest people you have met. Her strength and spirit are astounding. I am not saying this because she is my mother and she is sick, but I am saying it because it is true. I have always felt this way about her. I was a lucky child who became an even luckier lady and I can only hope to be half the woman she is. If I ever become a mother, I’d never be as awesome as her, although when I was younger I thought I could be, but now that I have learned so much about her I know that isn’t even remotely close to being possible.
Speaking of “half,” the reason this list is 32 reasons long is because M is 64 and I am half her age this year at 32. She was 32 when I was born - for all you mathematicians out there- so that’s the significance of the #32.
Hope you like it!
1. She will cook a meal for others even if she will never get the chance to eat it.
2. She stretches her body even though she has no intention of exercising.
3. She will make sure that everyone else is ok even when she isn’t.
4. She will go to the extreme for herself or for you when no one else will.
5. She will make sure she looks presentable when no one else is around, just in case someone shows up.
6. She will stay up late and get up early if that means she can keep an eye on everyone else.
7. She will buy you something when she goes shopping for herself because she knows the joy it will bring to you.
8. She will light up at the sound or sight of a child experiencing happiness.
9. She will over-pack, not just because she thinks ahead, but because she’s afraid that you won’t have thought of everything you’d need.
10. She will be the biggest fan and supporter of whatever it is you decide to do.
11. She will learn the words to a song the first time she hears it because it means that much to her.
12. She will endure endless hours of labor just to see your face.
13. She will accept every ridiculous hair style you’ll dare to adorn, purely for her own amusement but she will never tell you that.
14. She will dance no matter how inappropriate it may be.
15. Even though she has no sense of direction, she will drive you to insanity.
16. She will embarrass you at every possible moment.
17. When you have given up, she will show you another way.
18. When you are hungry, tired, wet, sore, depressed or sick she will feed you, find you a place to sleep, give you her towel, soothe your muscles, cheer you up and give you chicken soup without a second thought.
19. When you need a shirt ironed, she will iron it.
20. When you think you have all the shoes you could ever need, she will convince you that another pair couldn’t hurt.
21. When you pursue a dream that turns into a nightmare, she will be there to make sure you do not give up on your dreams, no matter how frightening.
22. When you fall in love, she will tell you, “I told you so.”
23. When you fall out of love, she will tell you, “I told you so.”
24. When you confide in her that you are ready to settle she will ask you if you’re sure, question your rationality, and turn your thoughts upside down to make you think about it some more.
25. When you cut, scrape or bruise yourself, she can kiss it and make it all better, no matter how old you are.
26. When you embarrass yourself in public she will reassure you that you are amazing, no matter what anyone else thinks.
27. When you think you have no one else to run to, she will be there.
28. When you feel walls closing in on you, she will be there holding them back.
29. She will always, always, always make food taste better than you.
30. She will go out of her way, even forget her own ambitions and dreams - to make sure that you have all the necessary parts for your trendy hobbies.
31. When she is sick, she turns to you to take care of everyone when she can’t. She doesn’t want you or anyone else to ever make a fuss over her. She will make sure you have money for food, parking and bottled water at the hospital. She will argue with you when you tell her that you can afford it all on your own, and she will argue with you when you tell her that you are coming to visit again.
32. And when she needs you the most, she never, ever let you know.
“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life
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