Mothers. The most important person in your life is your mother. She never leaves you, for better or for worse. She gives you your habits, strengths, weaknesses, and authentic self. It doesn’t matter how old you become or how old she becomes; your mother is always. I have been fortunate to have a great mother.
My mom is 101, and I am now her mother. That’s what she tells me. She has told me to make good decisions about her and take care of myself as well. As a result, we have been extremely healthy. She says you owe me because I took good care of you. In the evening, I try to look at the news with her to make sure she understands the world, and we might chat about current events.
Sometimes she is quiet, and occasionally real gems come out. She has asked what’s wrong with today’s kids? And I say they are violent. She says the parents are not doing a great job in raising them. She looks at the Russian War and says I hope you never see a World War because I don’t think you could take it. She says your generation is spoiled. She emphatically says that Franklin Roosevelt was the best President ever because he got Americans together in wartime and touched everyone.
When I leave for work, she still acts as the fashion police and notices my casual dress in the morning. “You need jewelry” or “those shoes are not right with that outfit” are just a few of her critiques. She watches a lot of television. I review my day with her, my schedule, meetings, lunch, or dinner.
One day, out of the blue, she asked, “Did you see the bird today?” She looks out the window and watches birds, an occasional cardinal, a bluebird, or perhaps a sparrow. I ask her what bird? She says you should stop and look at the birds and the flowers every day. Are you doing that today? Some days when I return home, she will ask, did you see a bird today? Most of the days, I don’t answer. I tell her that I’m working, not watching birds. But she will say, you should stop in the day and watch a bird.
She is clearly saying slow down, smell the flowers, and watch the birds. I listen somewhat because her age speaks volumes. You don’t grow old, moving fast. You grow old observing the birds, no matter how busy your day becomes, regardless of your stress level, passion, and tension.
She asked me to sit with her one day as I was saying goodbye, eager to start the day. She held my hand and said look out the window; we watched the birds for about 15 minutes. It was calming, and I cried. She said I am trying to tell you to watch a bird.
Happy Mother’s Day. I am still learning from my mother.
