Inspired #1
By Aimee on
Mother’s Day 2016
For the majority of my life this mother of mine raised us single-handedly which was tough. We came from a low socio-economic upbringing yet she still managed to somehow put us through private school for our primary years. That school was one of the best things to happen to us and our education. Socially, not so great as we were different but I have so many fantastic memories and learning experiences that have come from that school that I thank my mother for every day.
Mum has always insisted that we could become and do anything we wanted to be and has always been proud of our achievements, but she always knew that it would come with work and dedication. One thing I know she has said to me is that “you never know how well you have done as a parent until your kids have grown up”, and I think she has done a fantastic job. My sister is studying a diploma of early childhood, is married with two beautiful children who are hilarious and is a very strong minded woman. My little brother works hard, saves hard and is building a beautiful home for his fiancé and himself. I have just about finished my masters in teaching, I’ve travelled some of the world and I intend to teach wherever the world takes me with dreams bigger than I sometimes think possible. But if it wasn’t for the way my mum raised me I wouldn’t believe that I can do them.
She has this crazy ability to make something out of nothing. We would be bored so we would go to the park and have a picnic or some weekends we would go camping. Or on birthdays when we didn’t have a lot of “spare” money she would buy silly gifts like funny hats or silly string or whatever so we would have a lot of fun. The gifts would be small but she’d bake a cake and decorate and make us feel special. Same with Christmas, there would be the tradition of putting up the tree and going to the pageant and eating mangos. She could make fun from nothing and she could make everyone feel welcomed and loved. This is one thing that I have tried to learn from her, to enjoy the little things. You don’t need a lot of money to enjoy yourself. A few friends, some good music, some good food and you have a night you won’t forget.
She helped me with my love of music, I would sing at school and she would play the reservoir dogs sound-track (amongst others) whilst cleaning the house and we would sing and dance around, and she also nurtured my love of travel. We went to Queensland when I was 9 and I fell in love with flying. I always told her I would go to Scotland and she was so excited for me when I travelled there two years ago. Sam and I have started to talk about working overseas recently and instead of freaking out and not wanting us to go she’s super excited about the opportunities I have in life.
Her whole adult life has been us kids, she was a mum by the age of 20 and hasn’t done much else with her life except raise us, and now she’s the best Nanny any grandkids could ask for. She’s suffered from two strokes already and has recently been diagnosed with PTSD from a childhood of trauma but has managed to love us and care for us whilst dealing with her own problems. It hasn’t always been sunny with roses but I look back now and think of what a fantastic job she has done.
We have a beautiful adult mother-daughter relationship now and we can talk about anything, and sure we don’t always agree but we know that we just need to talk about our choices and why we made them and be there for each other.
Later this year mum and I are both getting a Snoopy and Woodstock tattoo on our ankles, we’ve been talking about this for years and it will finally happen (fingers crossed). When I was a week old she gave me my very first Snoopy which just so happened to have been hers and we have had this love of Peanuts since.
I love you mum! Happy mother’s day to one of the most deserving and caring women in my life, you inspire me.