Things I learned from my Mom

So as Mothers Day is approaching I thought I would list the top 5 things I learned from my Mom: 

Work and Work Hard...

Born the last of 5 children and raised on a farm, she new and instilled in me the importance of hard work.  I remember so often thinking we must surely be the only kids in the whole world that had to do chores before and after school!   Because I grew up in a large family and both parents worked (my mother has had a daycare/preschool business for 25 years) we were all expected to help out with things.  On top of this my Grandpa had a huge garden behind our home which we helped out with.  Funny how the things you detested doing as a child are now fond memories.  I remember kids going by on their bikes, and playing water games in their front yards, while my siblings and I shucked corn & picked peas.  My mother did not simply tell us to go do it, she stayed right by our sides showing us the correct way.  You had to be careful how the peas were picked, so that the bush would continue to produce peas.  Shucking corn was the worst though.  You never new what surprise you might find inside...bugs, worms, half eaten corn.  Plus we had to shuck it into the dump trailor which was full of grass clippings and other yard debris.  In the dead of summer it smelled horrible. I tried to get out of that chore any way I could.

Early to Bed, Early to Rise.....

My mother fiercely believed in "early to bed, early to rise".  We were up at 5 a.m. every morning to complete our job lists, and have family prayers and scriptures.  I don't remember ever missing.  It was more important to her than getting to the bus on time.  And there were times we missed the bus, "Not because of scriptures", she reminded us, "but because someone was not hurrying fast enough."  When we were younger, we were in bed before the sun was fully set (for her sanity, I'm sure).  We lived caddy corner from the little league fields and on summer evenings it was torture to be in bed listening to all the excitement and smelling the hamburgers and hot dogs!  Also knowing that someone else was out there turning in all the foul balls for a free gumball.  I remember laying there sweating to death because she did NOT believe in air conditioning.  Even though we had a swamp cooler, she was convinced it was better to just "crack a window to let in a cool breeze". I spent the majority of my childhood being uncomfortably sweaty.  Our station wagon did not have air conditioning either.  

If We Don't, Who Will?

I don't think my mother has ever cooked dinner for just our family, ever.  At one particular point I remember we were delivering dinners to: Clark Mangum an elderly gentleman that had cancer, my grandparents next door, my grandpa across the street, Tilly (an elderly widow), the missionaries at least twice a week, 2-4 stray kids, and us (at the time there were just 7 kids). When I first got married, one of my biggest challenges was to learn to cook for 2 instead of 20!  She still is cooking dinner for neighbors.  On top of this she volunteers for everything.  She has also done daycare for people at little to no cost because she knows they can't afford it.  She is diligent in taking care of people and believes everyone needs a friend.  This phrase tormented me when I was young.  I remember being guilted into playing with kids that "needed a friend".  It made me a more compassionate person, and yes I knew I was doing a good thing, but all I'm saying is maybe there was a reason I didn't wish to play with these kids: fresh goats milk for breakfast(which we had to fetch ourselves), tinfoil dinners baked on the engine of a car, for example.  Memorial Day is of utmost importance to my mom.  She takes pristine care of the graves of my grandparents, and great-grandparents, as well as other ancestors.  

Front Bench Reserved

We never sat anywhere but the front row at church.  You just simply can't pay attention if you are sitting anywhere else.  How I longed for the distractions of watching other people during church!  The flip side to this was we got an extra close look at a certain neighbors eyebrows when it was his turn to speak (they resemble fuzzy caterpillars...fascinating), and when he got his tie caught in his eye glasses one Sunday, well...that more than made up for having to sit in the front row.  I don't remember her making much of a fuss about what we wore to school, but Sundays were different.  Our hair had to be curled, slips, dresses, nylons (I kept these on long after church was over along with pom pom socks and shorts because they made my legs look tan) and shiny church shoes.  Nothing less than our very best.   Speaking of...

Nothing Less Than My Best

Half hearted efforts were not tolerated in my home growing up.  Everything my mother did/does is ALL OUT.  If she does something she does it big.  She strives for perfection in everything whether it be a talk, a program, an activity, or an open house, it is done with no detail overlooked.  Everyone always wonders how she does it and I'm going to tell you.  She's Wonder Woman.  She really is.

I will spend the entirety of my life trying to become like her.  What a lucky I am to have been blessed with this mom.  She has made me who I am and inspires me to do better each day, and I hope she knows how much I love and adore her.