Few people would disagree that Mom's in general are pretty damn cool. I've known quite a few good ones, including my sister, mother-in-law, a dear neighbor when we lived in Raleigh, and a sweet woman named Jane who, in addition to raising two great sons of her own, did quite a bit of mothering to me during those stressful teen years.
My own mom deserves very high praise as well. On Mother's Day there are quite a few "Best Mom in the World" accolades given via greeting card, coffee mug and Facebook post. Since it seems that title has already been assigned, mine will have to settle for the "Quite Fantastic Mother" award. Below I've listed a few of the items from her nomination form.
She gave me great freedom to explore. I explored the woods and creeks near my home, and went on great sledding adventures with friends. I traveled miles from home on my 10-speed. If she ever worried about me, she hid it well.
She bought me books.
She cooked dinner for us each night, a real sit down meal with meat and veggies. And by "each night" I mean: every. single. night. Bonus points.
She bought me comic books. Bonus points.
The love she gave me was deep, gentle and constant. It filled me with a peace and confidence that even today helps me navigate this troubled world.
I spent some time seeing doctors in hospitals as a child. She turned situations that could have been filled with boredom, pain and fear into a semi-pleasant experience. That feat probably deserves a medal of its own.
A couple of times during my late teens and early twenties she bought me round-trip plane tickets to Boston. It might be an exaggeration to say those trips saved my life. In any case, they were trips that took me to a place of profound love and acceptance that deeply shifted my perspective on life. AND I got to see the Boston Aquarium.
She carried crates of toys back and forth between me and my best friend's house, mostly without complaint (well, there was the one time she got just a tiny bit upset because they wouldn't fit in the back of the Pinto, but we can blame that on Dad for buying a Pinto [Dad, what were you thinking?]).
She bought my sister a pony. And by "pony" I mean an actual real live pony. Triple bonus points.
She decorated my room in red, white and blue wallpaper that I picked out myself. Quadruple bonus points.
Every once in a while she bought me Fruit Loops. Awesome!
She never once complained about the loud rock music emanating from my bedroom.
She sewed patches on the knees of my Toughskins.
Probably should have just started with the Toughskins thing and stopped there, because that's obviously all the qualifications she needs. Definitely a Quite Fantastic mother.
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