I'm excited to be participating in the May is for Moms link-up! It's a fabulous three-part series to celebrate motherhood, and you can catch the first part (an interview with myself) here. This next part is an interview with my mother.
My mother and I, before she was a Superstar Grandma!
Sidenote: Ever since I considered the prospect of becoming a mother, I knew I wouldn't settle for being any kind of mother but my mother. Growing up to turn into my mother wasn't so scary as it was an ultimate goal. It wasn't that she made running around like a frantic Mom Of All Trades glamorous, but admirable and, in a strange way, a little fun. If I can continue to morph into the kind of mother that my mother is, I'll be more than fine with that.
1. How did you feel the moment you found out you were pregnant with me? I was working at Biscayne Gardens Elementary School when I found out I was pregnant with you. I did the pregnancy test in the bathroom so most of the school knew before dad. I was so excited from the moment I detected that plus on the screen!
2. Was I a wonderful surprise or carefully planned? We decided that it was time to begin a family and within a short time we found out you were on the way.
3. What was the most challenging time in my childhood? Why? I think there were a lot of challenges in your childhood We were sharing a home with your great grandfather and he had his opinions on how you should be raised which didn't always agree with ours. Dad was working hard on beginning a career and he was traveling a lot. There weren't any children or young families in the neighborhood so I had to look long and hard to find friends for both of us. We scored gold with Holding Hands Cooperative School (Lindsay's Note: the cooperative school my mom and other like-minded mothers -- old school Tot School-ers -- founded and ran) and made lifelong friendships. Looking back now, I appreciate the challenges we faced and I think we are WHO we are because we survived them.
4. Did you worry more about me as a child or now that I am an adult? I worried about you as a young child because you were painfully shy and wouldn't speak to anyone. I was concerned that it was difficult for you to make friends and I didn't want you to be lonely, but I didn't have to worry because you have nurtured both old and new friendships over the years. You were an introverted, sensitive and apparently unhappy teen (Lindsay's note: try "downright surly") and these are the years I worried most about you. I feared that you wouldn't find a "place" for yourself and I just wanted you to be happy. Again, I agonized needlessly because you've found a place for yourself and have become a good wife, wonderful mother and seemingly happy person.
5. What is one thing that you thought was deeply important when I was a baby that you now realize did not matter at all? When you were a baby, I wanted to give you everything. You had every toy, every book, every new thing that was available. I worked so hard with you to make sure you excelled at everything. I realize now that it was the time I spent with you, not the material things that I provided, that was most important. Looking back, I appreciate just being with you and the best memories I have are quiet moments spent, like hours upon hours of swinging on swings and playing in the backyard.
This is such a lovely post Lindsey. It's so nice to learn a bit more about your history and the path that helped to lead you to the mama that you are today. xx and Happy Mother's Day!!!
ReplyDeletelovely answers by your mom! that is so cool that she / you were in a cooperative school!
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