Posted by
str8_talk on Sunday, May 11, 2008 12:16:51 PM
It is Mother's Day and for all of you who are Mother's (and this goes to Fathers who had to 'stand in' for Mothers too, for whatever reason) I hope that you have a great day!
I believe our children can be our legacy and mine have certainly made me proud! They love me, they cherish me and if push came to shove they would stand by me against anyone who came against me and have.
My oldest daughter graduated from college in three and a half years with an International Business degree and a minor in Spanish - Summa Cumme Laude. I had just had spinal surgery and I was unable to attend her graduation, the doctor would not release me for the three hour drive; several months before I had been in a near fatal car accident. I cried for a week not to be able to share this milestone with her. I was SO PROUD of her! She met her husband at the University she attended and they dated and then took courses together in Spain. He proposed to her at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Generalifé in the gardens in Spain. He washed her feet as Jesus did his disciples and told her that he didn't just want to be her husband; he also wanted to be her servant. He is still the head of the household, but she manages the bills. She went on to become a bilingual first grade teacher. He was a bilingual fourth grade teacher and received his Master's from UTA at the age of 23 and became a principal at the age of 24! When they had their second child, she decided to stay home and became licensed as a daycare provider. She also teaches private Spanish lessons and they go with their church on missions trips to Mexico almost every year. They are the translators. They also help lead the Praise and Worship at their church as she is a gifted pianist/keyboard player by sight and by ear and he is gifted on both acoustical and classical guitars also by sight and by ear. Plus they both sing very well. I attend their church when I'm in their town and I love hearing them play and sing. I have my own church in my home town. They have my first two grandchildren who adore me and the oldest one calls me on the phone with my daughter's help. Sometimes he just needs to "talk with Nana." So cute!
All of my kids and grandkids have a portion of my heart and I don't favor any of them over the others. I am always fair in gift-giving and try to divide my attention to them all equally. I have a great deal of love to share.
My next is my son who is a Sgt. in the Marine Corp; he does not have his degree, yet he attained his rank through hard work and dedication in three short years. I cannot say what he does, as his job has very high security clearance, but I can say that I'm extremely proud of him. On his first and second deployments he led a Bible study. He's a stalwart man with a dedication to God and country! We happen to share the same birthday which is very special. He has my next grandchild, a son who is already an electronics genius. He actually called me one night on their cell phone and they cannot figure out how, because they had not called me that day. He was jabbering away, when I heard his Mom say, "He sounds like he's actually talking to someone!" I said into the phone loud enough for them to hear "He is, it's his Nana!" She grabbed the phone after a little while and said "I don't know how he figured out how to do that! Do you know he turns the TV to the cartoon channel sometimes?" They don't have me on speed dial, somehow he pushed the right buttons. We laughed; at the time he was only 8 mos old! She is lovely and is a floral designer, a very talented one too and follows God and spent time with me when he was on his last deployment. They've been apart more in their marriage than together.
My next daughter is a recording artist who sings a 4.5 octave range and is recording her first solo CD of Christian Contemporary music. She started singing solos at the age of nine and it was in front of an audience of 1,200 people. She had to audition for it, out of 75 kids from ages eight to eleven, the director narrowed it down to two - both of my daughters! I said "Leave me out of this decision, you have to make it and I cannot believe it came down to the two of them!" They sang duets together in the church we attended and when we moved from that church their farewell song was "Friends are Friends Forever" (if the Lord's the Lord of them) by Michael W. Smith. She went on to take voice lessons, while her sister took piano lessons and she took every solo she tried out for in high school. She attended college on a music scholarship, but decided to do missions work and went to Thailand to help rescue girls whose families had sold them into prostitution. They helped set up homes and taught them to garden, she had learned to garden from me. Now she's pursuing her dream and she has some really good producers and will be finishing her project soon. She sings at churches for specials and sometimes at weddings. I also attend her church when I visit her if I'm there on a Sunday. When her husband came to meet the family when they were dating, which was for 3 years, he said "If you look as young and as good as your Mom does after having kids, I won't have anything to complain about." My other son-in-love (I call them that becaue they are such wonderful men and I don't like the word in-law!) was in the next room and he said, "Yes I thought the same thing when I met Kimberly the first time, you have to assess the family genes." They were so funny! He's also a very Godly man and he is in communications, he also sings. He treats her with respect and is the head of the house as well. All the men in the family are and should be.
When we have family get-togethers it is a real treat because we have so much talent and they sing and delight me with their musical talent. I used to sing with them, but my anterior cervical discectomy damaged my vocal chords and my range is not what it used to be. I used to sing solos in my church. We all read music or can listen by ear for the notes.
Last but not least is my son who is still at home; I was blessed with all gifted children. Some people say this is a curse not a blessing but I am an optimist and I look at it as a blessing and a challenge! ;) He scores in the top one percent in the nation on all the national tests in school just like his siblings did, so I'm proud of him as well. Public school has lost much of its control; although living in a rural location has had its advantages. He will be graduating in another week from middle school and making the big step to high school. The middle school principal is a God-fearing man and we've talked about curriculum many times over the last three years. He keeps a Bible on his desk at all times and nobody says one word about it. He is a disciplinarian and I totally agree with him. I was concerned at one point because my son came home and told me they would be teaching evolution and he said "Mom I don't want to be in the class because we believe in Creationism." He's always had a large vocabulary. The principal assured me his science teacher was a Christian and would present it as a theory not fact and he did. This son at the age of three started ordering for himself at restaurants without my assistance. The first time he did, we were at a nice restaurant he said "Mom I want to order, please don't say anything!" I was taken aback but I waited to see how he would handle himself. When the waiter came he said "I want the fried chicken tenders and I would like to substitute fruit for the french fries." After the waiter left my son looked at me very seriously and asked "Mom did I use 'substitute' correctly?" I told him "Yes, son you did and I'm very impressed." I smiled at his very adult manners. That only seems like yesterday and now he'll be going into high school. At this juncture, I've decided to opt for a private school because the public school drops in rankings - middle school at the top 20% in the nation and the high school to the bottom 30%. So we're in the process of procuring a spot in a private school with the conservative foundations I've raised him with.
Amendment 4/15: I failed to mention my two stepsons that I've had the privilege of having a hand in raising. I have always felt that they are 'my' sons as well. Yet, I would NEVER try to take their OWN Mother's place! They are very dear to me! Over the years, it seems children are easier to love than adults. Maybe that is because they are usually still malleable, where adults tend to become stuck in their ways and dogmatic. Nevertheless, these two young men have touched my life and apparently I have touched theirs. They are practically grown now and the oldest is nearly through college and I'm very proud of them. The oldest one calls me on each Mother's day and usually on my birthday. I get a card on both occasions and sometimes they join me for lunch on Mother's Day. Since Mother's Day seems to land on the week before finals they rarely get 'home' to see 'either' mother. The oldest one is an accounting major and has one year of college left, with the five year plan. This is due to working in a bank almost full-time in a very good job. He would not have to, his Mother has a very good job, but he is a very responsible young man and realizes that it is linked to his future. The youngest one recently switched majors to business, but he's only a sophomore and it's not unusual at his age. They are both 'gifted' as well. I expect to see them do great things in their lives. I came into their life before the oldest was a freshman in high school and they're two years apart. They both played football (my favorite sport) and the oldest went on to play on a football scholarship until he had to have extensive surgery and PT. I was honored when the oldest had Sr recognition in wrestling to receive the 'Mother's Rose' and his Mother and I both received one at the football game that honored the Srs.
They know I have high standards in my home and they've respected them, no cursing, no movies that are rated R unless I have screened them and some of the PG movies I have to get online and find out why before they are plugged into my DVD player. I have restrictions on my TV, oh my...Parental Controls. I'm archaic...LOL! At least that's what I've been told. 'My friends parents let them...You're the only mother that...' I've heard them all and I don't cave. Call me hard nose, but my oldest children are proof that I've done 'SOMETHING' Right! I had the same battles with them! What I wanted to mention is that they sent me a card and they usually write in it, but I was especially touched by the one I received this year, they said it would be late because they bought it and failed to mail it on time due to studying for finals. I was sincerely grateful that they cared enough to send me the card. As I read the personal note, it brought tears to my eyes; the oldest one wrote it and this is what it said:
Kimberly - We have been blessed every day since you first came into our lives. You are truly a very special mother to us.
Also, since it is your day we wanted to say thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do for all of us.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
With this being Mother's Day, I thought others could share stories of their children. I have some friends who have been both mother and father to their children, so you need not be female. Sometimes our children define us and I believe that mine have. If your child has strayed from your teachings, I pray that they come back to you and to God. God is first in my life and plays an integral role and always has. If you don't have anything positive to say, then I ask that you refrain from posting. This is not a day, nor is any day a day to spew venom and you know who I'm talking to. Thank you!