Things I learned and some I didn't from my mother

(For the record, I'm the adorable one in the middle with the Fred Flintstone feet.)

What my mother didn't teach me that I learned the hard way:

• that forgiveness is a gift you give yourself


• that God is my everything


• that having a newborn is not for the faint of heart


• that seeing your child in pain is excrutiatingly more difficult than your own pain


• that I really am creative, just not in the same ways she is


• that not all men are creeps


• that marriage isn't a fairy tale, it's a constant work in progress


• that just because it's true, doesn't mean it's not gossip


• that mother's aren't perfect, but love covers a multitude of sins

Things I learned from my mother:

• to make lemonade when life give you lemons, even if it's still a little bitter


• that creativity and a little elbow grease can go a long way


• to respect your elders even if you don't agree with them


• to always say please and thank you


• that steamed rice goes with just about anything, even spaghetti sauce


• that when there's nothing to laugh about, you can always laugh at yourself


• to always put the needs of others before your own


• to do an honest day's work


• that happiness is a warm puppy - even the 3 legged variety


• that sometimes life is just about endurance


• that actions always speak louder than words


• to pick myself up and dust myself off


• to never say "I'll never do that with my kids."


• that the youngest child usually gets their way by means of wearing you down


• that the youngest child gets sucker punched in the back when mom's not looking (okay, my sisters and brother taught me that one - frequently)


• that cute goes a long way, but character will go the distance


• to be a subservient and submissive wife (okay that one didn't really take)


• that giving to others is infinitely more satisfying that hoarding things for yourself.


• that true beauty comes from within

Thanks, mom. I am a better mom because I am your daughter.
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms, daughters, grandmothers and granddaughter!