I got the cutest call from K yesterday. As one seasoned mom to another, I always love getting her calls informing me of the daily antics of my two grown grandsons. How did two little bundles lost in fleece turn into hairy men weighing 200 lbs. each. My goodness, Shorty is over 6’2 while my oldest grandson is 6’8. In my heart, they are still little guys that made VST and me proud every single day.
How well I remember the afternoon that K brought our grandsons to The Golden Chain Theater in Oakhurst, California to watch VST in his signature roll as Buck Badam. In melodramatic fashion, our two littles watched their Papa create a villain onstage while wielding his weapon in a choreographed sword fight. I guess it made quite an impression, as Shorty has become quite the actor. As he puts it, “the second actor in our family”.
Shorty is graduating from high school. Just like that, all grown up. He works 8 hour days at a local grocery store while acting and finishing high school. Of course, there’s always time for his girl, and their last prom is tomorrow night.
Remembering back to when I was K’s age, there were plenty of days when I wanted to scream in pride over the accomplishments of our five children. When VST and I married, we blended a family of 11-year-old twins, two 8-year-olds, and a six-year-old. We never looked back, doing our best to give the best examples of adulting to them, hoping that their lives could turn out as happy as ours. Now, almost 35 years later, it seems the kids have turned out alright.
Bubbling over on the phone, K was sharing her Mother’s Day delights, which for any mother is every single day. The highs and lows create a patchwork quilt of love and commitment that covers our children, even when they aren’t children anymore. In my own empty coop these days, thank goodness I have so many precious memories with which to snuggle on nights that are a little too quiet.
Still smiling this morning about K and her accompishments as a mom, I got my coffee and started with my morning ritual. Always checking the emails first, I had my own reason to scream with pride from the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada!
My beloved son, J, is on his way home from his deployment to another desert on the other side of the world. At 42, no one expected him to be chosen for deployment in his last year of service to our Nation. But, someone had to go and it was him. Leaving three children and a wife behind, along with his own business, he was plucked out of his life to serve our country for the last time. He’ll earn his retirement from the military later this year.
Yes, K, sometimes I’m so proud of my kids I just want to scream with delight. This is one of those moments for sure. Entrepreneurs and inventors, educators, healers, protectors, veterans, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters, husbands, wives, friends and mentors. Although a group of five to VST and me, each person unique and individually successful.
When I was pregnant 42 years ago, my obstetrician required weekly classes covering all aspects of parenthood, as well as the physical aspects of pregnancy and delivery. There were 25 classes, in all. No epidurals were necessary. Sheer will power and focus were enough. Knowledge of how to handle the difficult situation of labor and delivery would be better for the baby. It turns out, in my situation, it was.
One of the classes I remember the most was one on teaching independence to our children. As I sat, round-bellied like the other Pre-Mom’s in our maternity class, Doctor Ellis himself came in to teach the ultimate importance of independence. For two hours, he discussed the most important job of a mom. Teaching her babies to ultimately leave the nest and live life to the fullest on their own. That process begins with the simplest snip of the cord. What a lucky group of women we were to hear such such wise advise.
This Mother’s Day, it’s with pride that I scream in pride just a little about my flock. Five wonderful people that are contributing to society in their own unique and beautiful ways. That’s better than 100 Hallmark cards. It’s worth my everything. VST, rest easy up there in heaven. We did alright.
Have a wonderful day.
More tomorrow.