“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”
― Mother Teresa
I have never known a kinder soul than my own mother.
This very sentiment will be shared countless times this weekend by sons and daughters showering their beloved moms with gifts of flowers, brunch and outings with the family. Yet, there are many of us amongst you, missing that very special lady in our lives, and reminding us of the very reason we celebrate her…
I lost my mom last year around this time; a month before Mother’s Day to be exact. April 2016. It’s been very hard to talk about and something I never share professionally, because it is so personal and close to home. I look back on those last moments with my mom, as hard as they were, and cherish every single second I had with her. And until she took her very last breath, she embodied true KINDNESS.
“Honey, you’d take my last nickel, but I’d be happy to give it to you.”
Those words echo fervently in my head. I can see her so clearly expressing her honesty to me as a child. Naturally, as a young adult, I left home as early as I could to start my life and career. Every time I returned for a visit, I would take my mother for an afternoon tea so we could just talk and spend time together. Thinking back on those conversations now (and what I wouldn’t give to have just one more with her), I can’t help but smile because these were the very moments that I got to KNOW my mom. It was like meeting her for the first time, as an adult. She was her own person, her own being, who just happened to share her genes with me. If there was only one word I could take away to describe this woman I had come to know was KIND.
Leading up to her last days, I distinctly recall the generosity and kindness she showed to the nurses who cared for her. She would look at each of them deeply and say, “Honey, you’re so beautiful!” She was always so sweet to everyone she met, even in her darkest hours. She embodied this virtue that I believe is nothing short of miraculous.
I’m now a mother myself. My son Brom turns nine this year and he loves video games, swimming, and visiting Legoland. He just learned to ride his bike without training wheels and now we ride together on the weekends. My most special moments with Brom are at bedtime. It’s the time of day when we all wind down, it gets a little quiet, and we get to just talk. He tells me about his day and asks me questions. He’s at the age where he’s starting to wonder more about me, about who I am as a person. He understands that I’m someone beyond “mom” and he wants to learn who that is. It makes me so happy to get to connect with him on that level already. We really get to bond at bedtime and it’s quickly become my favorite part of the day.
This Mother’s Day, we’ll probably get breakfast together as a family (since that’s our collective favorite meal) at our favorite spot, Breakfast Republic. Bike riding is still new and exciting, so I expect we’ll go bike riding at Crown Point. But mostly we’ll celebrate the holiday by being together.
I wish all the mothers out there, mine included, a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Life is short, and I’ve learned not to take anything for granted. I hope you treasure the special moments you have with this incredible woman in your life, who blessed you with so many gifts of kindness.
Xoxo,
LaVonne
For those of you missing your mom this Mother’s Day, I share this with you:
Your Mother is always with you.
She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.
She's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore.
She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well.
She's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow.
She is Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter.
She's crystallized in every teardrop.
A mother shows every emotion ... happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow... and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love; your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!
Author: Unknown
Vendor Love: Photos by Paul Barnett