Tell me a story about your mom

[Anonymous]

My mom was a pediatrician. Growing up, I often wished I could have more time with her, but I loved her and admired her. When my oldest was born, she came to stay for a week or so. She was incredibly helpful -- cooking, cleaning, telling us what a great job we were doing, and offering advice only when asked and very breezily -- "You could try this . . ." When she left, I took her to the train station. She gave me a big hug and put an envelope that was all folded up in the palm of my hand. It contained a St. Christopher medal (he's the patron saint of travelers) with the note "You are embarking on a great journey. You don't know where it will take you, but trust yourself, you know more than you think." The last part is a quote from Dr. Spock, who was one of mom's professional heroes. The medal and the note are in my top dresser drawer, where I see them almost every day. Mom died in 2011. I miss her, but I think she knows that the journey has been amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She loved me. I miss her everyday. Seeing Mother’s Day cards makes me sad. I just want to buy one for her. She loved cards and waited for the mailman every day.

*sniff* 😢

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just last night, my mom (80) called me (54) to say "I just got a notification that your package arrived. Did you see it outside?" I'm like, what package, huh? I go get a package, and she sent me a mug that says "Sometimes you forget you're awesome so this is your reminder." I'm drinking out of it right now. She was so happy to send that mug, and said "it's not even your birthday!" when we were talking last night. Such a sweet thing to do, and it honestly made my day!

From childhood, we moved from one state to another, building a house that wouldn't be ready for months after we sold the one we were living in. My mom decided we would take an epic road trip across the United States, and my dad could fly in and meet us when he could. The "rules" were that when it was just my mom, if we saw anything we wanted to see we'd stop. We'd wing it. Three kids and mom. When my dad was with us, we had to have an itinerary (that would be me today!!). So for the entire summer we wandered the U.S. before making it back to our new city, where we settled in a hotel for another six weeks while the house was finished. It was the greatest summer and start to school ever. We all loved it so much.

Aww, these stories are great. I think I've turned a corner, DCUM. I used to be envious and cry about the mother wound, but now I'm genuinely happy for you all.

My 40th bday just passed. No call, text, card, email... nothing. I have 3 kids and live 20 mins away from my parents. I can count the number of times they've met my eldest on one hand. They've never even met my youngest. She's 2. My mom truly is the worst. I don't think she did the best she could or any of that. I think she is deeply disturbed and has never even considered seeking treatment. She has no friends or social life, limiting her sphere to just a few maladapted enablers.

I often wonder how it will hit me when she dies. In some ways, I've been waiting for that day to come my entire life. Will it finally be a sweet release?

I relate to the PP whose mother makes it clear her family is not priority. I've been getting the message that I'm an unwelcome burden for my entire life.

[Anonymous]

I am envious and sad when I read all the Mothers Day posts about wonderful mothers. Mine was the neighborhood floozy who would get sloppy drunk and not care who saw her.

[Anonymous]

I hope my kid has nice things to say about me when I’m gone.

The nicest thing I can say about my mom is that she tried her best. She also taught me how to present a good face despite a messy internal life. It’s a useful skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it’s not quite Mother’s Day yet but I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom lately because my kids are approaching the ages me and my siblings were when my dad died and how I just really respect and treasure my mom for how she handled it. My favorite memory of her is a few nights after my dads funeral she was sewing my brothers Halloween costume and our house was filled, and I mean filled, with casseroles. It was late, maybe an hour or two after she put us to bed and I came down and told her I couldn’t sleep. In a very very out of characteristic move she suggested we order Chinese. At this house? With all this “free food” already made and prepared for us? Eating in secret on the couch without my siblings? Didn’t seem like my mom! We ordered Chinese and we didn’t talk much, she just knew I needed to sit next to her. After we ate and we were cleaning up she said “I want you to know that I can handle this. Our family and your life isn’t stopping. We will be happy and we will have a great life.” And I just believed her. It was what I needed. And we did.

Thank you for sharing this story - it literally make me cry. Your mom sounds like a absolute gem (and a very tough lady!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to fling open the door to my bedroom and dance in the doorway when I was playing music that she liked. It annoyed teenage me to no end but it always makes me smile thinking about it now.

I love this one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother wasn’t perfect and on some level I do love her. But the first memory that popped into my head when I read this thread title was the time she grabbed my hair and slammed my head into a wall. I know there were good memories, but they are clouded.

Yes. It was feast or famine with my mom. One day there'd be neglect and abuse. Another day would be the best Christmas ever. I never knew what to expect and I couldn't be lovable to her no matter what or how hard I tried. Eventually, I stopped trying. We had a pleasant enough relationship once I was grown and needed nothing from her. I'm still not sure if she loved me.

[Anonymous]

One of my dearest memories of my mom is from sometime in jr. high. She came to my bedroom door at about midnight and whispered my name. I was awake, too. She said: "Get dressed. We are going for pie." I tossed on some clothes and we snuck out of the house and went to an all-night diner and each had a huge slice of apple pie. We listened to loud music in the car with the windows rolled down, no big talk or anything. When we got home we went back to sleep. My other siblings never knew it happened. I will never forget it.

[Anonymous]

My mom was very mild mannered and quiet but had a wonderful way of finding humor in situations and an infectious laugh. Aa a teen at the dentist after I had a tooth knocked out the sort of excitable and dramatic dentist was making an increasingly convoluted and non-sensical analogy abt the dental complicated situation (…as if a baguette were to…always wearing sandals and then one day…a bear in its den!”

My mom started smiling, than suppressing laughter (all visible to me, in the chair with my mouth open, but not the dentist) then quietly stepped (though I could still see her trying to compose herself in the hall, literally wiping tears of laughter from her eyes) while the dentist continued the bizarre metaphorical journey.

[Anonymous]

My mom has had many deep conversations with my kids about garbage trucks (toddler years), superheroes (preschool) through today where conversations revolve around video games, friends, school, even YouTube/TikTok videos (teens).

I wonder if any other adult in their lives really listens to them and engages the way my mom does ❤️

[Anonymous]

My mom had six kids, cooked 3 meals a day, sewed dresses, canned vegetables, looked after other family members children as well as her own. She is patient, kind, forgiving, supportive. One year my husband and I both worked, him 2 jobs. He had an operation and had to be out of work-the second job with no pay. One Friday I was in kitchen washing dishes, wondering how we were to make it through the week, as we had just paid a huge mortgage bill. Someone pulls into the yard, it is Mom. She stopped by on her way from work.." Here's forty dollars, I just thought you could use it right now". Thanks you angel. On Saturday nights, after her bath she would Jergens up, roll her hair with Dippity Do and watch Hee Haw. My mom is wonderful; I could write hundreds of stories about her and they would all be good. Praise the Lord! thanks for my tiny Sarah!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mother wasn’t perfect and on some level I do love her. But the first memory that popped into my head when I read this thread title was the time she grabbed my hair and slammed my head into a wall. I know there were good memories, but they are clouded.

Yes. It was feast or famine with my mom. One day there'd be neglect and abuse. Another day would be the best Christmas ever. I never knew what to expect and I couldn't be lovable to her no matter what or how hard I tried. Eventually, I stopped trying. We had a pleasant enough relationship once I was grown and needed nothing from her. I'm still not sure if she loved me.

I was seven and I had an overbite and she called me Beaver Teeth and taught all my siblings to call me that too. I remember having this fantasy where I could somehow sink into the floor and just not exist anymore so she wouldn’t taunt me and bully me and call me names. I used to fantasize that I would find out I had been abducted when my real parents would show up to claim me. When I visit my childhood home I realize that I am intimately familiar with all of the closets because I spent most of my time in them
Hiding from her.

[Anonymous]

My mom literally raped me. No other story about her needs to be told. May she and her husband burn in hell.

[Anonymous]

I love your post OP and there are so many beautiful posts here. It makes me happy to read so many of you came from truly loving moms. I think my post of memories of mom would rain on the parade so I just want to say, keep the loving stories coming. I have worked hard in therapy and hope I can be and am more like your mothers and not like mine.