Loving Mom on Mother's Day

Mommy & me in Mexico in December.

Welcome mothers to your big day.  Today I want to thank my mother, Tina.  Early in the weeks and months that we were dealing with Bob's illness my about to be 77 year old mom got into her car and drove three hours in winter weather to be with me.  Taking care of Bob and the other assorted things I had to do in a day was becoming a challenge.  Bob and his healthcare were the priority then and I was spending a lot of time taking him to his various medical, diagnostic and other appointments related to his lung cancer.  During that time Bob also contracted various other illnesses that further impeded his health.  I had no one to help me handle the basic things that needed to get done like cleaning my house, buying groceries, doing dishes or cooking or even taking the garbage out.  I remember one day just having a complete breakdown, calling my mother and blubbering to her on the phone ,"Can you please come and help me?"  Within hours she was there and ended up staying for 6 weeks until the end.

When Bob was well enough I could even go to work and my mother would be there for Bob during the day.  I would come home to a spotless house, dinner on the go and coffee on the brew.  The three of us would sit and chat about our favorite things while sipping coffee.  For my mother that was always politics and religion while for Bob it was art, business, creativity and his family.  Those were lovely times protected by our innocence of what was yet to occur.  Bob and I even had the audacity to plan a trip to the South of France - it was to be a combined birthday and anniversary trip.  Mom and Bob and I spent hours dreaming and laughing this way.

I could not have managed without my mother.  She held Bob's hand and she held mine.  I had many a cry with her as I began to comprehend the situation with Bob.  She cleaned, cooked, listened, watched, supported, wiped my tears and loved me through it all.  My mother had lost her own husband, Bill, my father, when she herself was 54.  She knew only too well what I was going through.

In the final days she made her peace with her friend, my Robert.  She was so strong.  I watched her say goodbye and it broke my heart because I knew she too was losing someone dear to her.

Now she and I have a new relationship with each other.  I depend on her for strength when my days are too emotional to bear.  She makes me coffee and we sit in our living room remembering and holding hands.  I am truly blessed to have a mother such as mine to be with me now and always in this life.

Mom I love you and am grateful to you always.
 
Love and blessings to all the mothers out there.
Tosca

PS.  Please also remember to thank your own mother and visit for our Mother's Day contest.

P.P.S.  One more thing.  Please also visit Mom's on Pinterest for some good clean fun.