My mom was a 2nd grade teacher in a rough district and she was that teacher you would want your kid to have...the right combination of no-nonsense toughness, and knowing just what to say and how to say it type of caring. She was the same way at home.

I can't pinpoint specific memories because it was really just the day to day attitude about her that made my life what it was. My dh says I'm turning into her, which I take as a huge compliment, considering I spent my teenage and young adult years promising that I would be more adventurous and exciting than my parents were.

While I have had lots of special moments with my parents, I realize now while I'm parenting that is truly is the day to day things that create the tone of the family. While presents and vacations are nice, talking during family dinners, weekend time spent all together, and patience enough to just sit on the floor and play together are what really matter. My parents instilled that in me by example and I hope I am doing enough of the same with my children.

1. Sitting on the kitchen counter and making challah with my mom (she tried to teach me how to braid with challah dough).
2. Letting me join the Barbie fan club even though she wouldn't let me have a Barbie (how I actually learned to braid).
3. Buying me really creative design coloring books and colored pencils.
4. Taking me out for Mommy&Missy lunches (the first time I ate at Boston Market was one of those)
5. When I was away at college and there was a big roommate problem, I was switching roommates and the girl moving in had her parents come to the school. I was on the phone with my mother and she asked if I needed her to come be there too.

I had a lot of bad flus as a child. I can remember her sleeping on the floor next to my bed, I would be in and out of high fever dreams, but she would be right there! I remember the humidifier, and the Vicks she would rub on my chest.

When I was 20 and leaving to study abroad, my mom flew out with me to where I would depart from. She had recently been diagnosed with advanced cancer but insisted I still go on my trip. We shared a hotel bed and I remember her cuddling with me the morning before I left, like I was a little girl. In that moment, I could feel all the love she had for me so strongly, and writing this now I am both smiling and there are tears streaming down my cheeks. She lived five more years, but that moment was a goodbye of sorts and made me really appreciate all she was to me.

I also have great memories of her playing word games with me as a preschooler, sending awesome care packages to me at camp and college, leaving notes in my lunch box and under my pillow when she traveled, and generally always acting as if there was no where she would rather be than spending time with her children.

My favorite memories
- playing "restaurant" with my mom - she would make menus and then we would choose what to eat and do it up fancy!!
- making cards at Christmas (my mom would bring out all the cards from last year and I would cut out pictures and collage to make new cards. we did this together!)
-going for special girls dates to the spa (this was when I was older)
-baking apple torte with her and eating the apples dipped in cinnamon
-baking cheesecake and licking the beaters! we did this at least once a month
-dancing in our dining room!
- my mom did awesome parties at home with old school games like pass the parcel and egg and spoon race and always made cupcakes with chocolate buttons and called them fairy cakes! I have good memories of her sitting with me and writing thank you notes for every occasion too

Totally calling my mom now! This is a nice idea for a thread

I'm not sure I can pick one best memory. I just think of her as a completely comforting and soothing presence when I think of my childhood. She could be (and often still is) a huge PITA but I love her to death.

One night at 10:17 pm I had an emotional breakdown about having no boobs...a nightmare for a 15 year old. I was trying to put together an outfit and I looked "like a little girl" in everything. For the first ten minutes my mom tried to console me, tell me what a relief small boobs are, or that I might still grow boobs, or that big boobs make you sweat ect ect. Then she looked at the clock at said "ok its 10:30 and Walmart closes at 11; if we hurry we can make it and buy you a water bra." I felt so special and so heard and understood. We bought a wonderbra and got frostys from Wendys on the way home. I remember that evening often and will try and do similar special things with my kids.

Anonymous wrote:My mom was high strung, depressed, and anxious and not that much fun to be around. But her heart was in the right place. She wasn't one to get down on the floor and play with us, but she did try to make the foods we liked, make sure we had clean clothes and everything we needed for school, checked our homework etc. She was not a bad person, or a bad mom.

This is EXACTLY my relationship with my mom. I don't know that she was built to be a mom, but she always tried her hardest with the personality that she had. I never wanted for anything, and I attribute that to my parents.

As for loving memories, I remember my mom used to rub my back when she would talk on the phone or watch tv. I loved that!

My mom brought us to story hour every week at the library. My favorite 'warm and fuzzy' memory is climbing into her bed, laying against her chest with her 'silky' pajamas on, hearing her heartbeat and smelling the ink ands paper from the Boston Globe she was reading.

I just moved my mom to be 10 min from me instead of three hours. Am loving it.

My mom:
Made cookies with us at Christmas
Let me help her when in the kitchen which is where I learned to cook
Took us trick or treating and let is go as long as we wanted and never rushed or complained
Took me to a movie - just me and her - whenever my sister was just a little too obnoxious for words (long backstory there...trust me it was not a rare occurrence).

My mom was high strung, depressed, and anxious and not that much fun to be around. But her heart was in the right place. She wasn't one to get down on the floor and play with us, but she did try to make the foods we liked, make sure we had clean clothes and everything we needed for school, checked our homework etc. She was not a bad person, or a bad mom.

My mom waited for me everyday after school without fail with a favorite snack and a loving heart. Seriously she was downright amazing. Make that IS!

Same as the PP. My mom was far from warm and fuzzy. We don't talk much anymore. No great memories, unfortunately. Just trying very hard not to repeat what she did. Trying to do better for my kids.

Nothing.

My mom just left our home after staying with my family this summer. I always thought it would be wonderful to live with her; I had all these fantasies of what I thought it would be. But it was Diaster , too much 24/7, we ended up fighting all the time. I am trying to think of warm fuzzy thoughts about her to reminisce on from the past to make me "like" her again. I love her but I just don't like her; after this summer she definitely feels the same way. I want a better relationship with my kids. What's your warm fuzzy memory of growing up with mom?