Anonymous wrote:I remember waking up one Saint Patrick's day when I was young and finding that our milk had been turned green. My mom put on a huge show and said the leprechauns must have done it. I remember being soooo excited about it. She was the same way with all the other holidays. Now even though I'm 24, she still puts presents under the tree on Christmas and makes them from Santa.

This reminded me that my mom used to set up the most amazing easter egg hunts for us. They'd start with a clue for each of us hidden with our dyed eggs and then we'd have to follow the string of clues all over our house until we found our basket. Each of the three of us would have our own trail of clues, and each clue was a rhyming riddle--it must have taken her forever to think of all of them and set everything up.

She also threw great birthday parties for me as a kid. There were always really unique games--one time she created a whole maze with different colors of yarn, each kid got the end of one string of yarn and we had to go all over the house unwinding it to find a prize at the end. Again--it must have taken forever to set it up, she would have had to crawl around and under furniture, etc.

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

I have a permanent physical disability and both of my parents fought long and hard to make sure I got the best health care and a normal life. They worked several jobs when the economy tanked for them in the 90s to keep us in private school, they basically busted ass for us.

My mom taught me all kinds of card games (even poker which we played with pennies), how to swim, how to pick a crab and scale a fish, how to dance, how to tell a funny joke, how to tell a short and good toast, to look people in theeye, to have good manners, to hold my head up and not be afraid, to dance, to be confident. She was great!

Anonymous wrote: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.

My mother is also not warm, fuzzy or kind. We hardly ever talk, however, I do encourage my DC to have a relationship with her and my brother's family. My immediate family sucks. Now, if you asked about my grandparents - they were funny, affectionate, loving, kind, and we adored each other. I wish my DC could have the same experience with grandparents

I work everyday at parenting very differently than my mom. She wasn't cut out to have children.