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Are You My Mother?
Remember that popular Dr. Seuss book, “Are You My Mother?”. I must have read it to my girls a kazillion times when they were little. They would laugh when the little big eyed bird would ask the bulldozer if it was his mother? Or the cow? Then finally the little bird found it’s mother who had been out catching a worm for her little baby bird, a very reassuring ending. “Again, momma, ” my baby birds would cry, “Read it again.”
That was many years ago but as Mother’s Day rolled around again this past Sunday I remembered fondly reading that book and asking myself the new question, “What makes a good mother?” Both my girls were gone on Mother’s Day. One on a end of school Jefferson Junior High student council educational trip to Atlanta, Georgia. I had been receiving phone calls daily giving a blow by blow account of each and every stop along the way. “Mom, Mom, we’re at the CNN studios in Atlanta.”It was very early my friends. Barely awake, I mumbled, “That’s nice Madeleine.”
“Mom, mom, I think we might get to see that old guy. You know the old guy?”“Do you mean Anderson Cooper, Madeleine. But he’s not that old, he just has prematurely grey hair.”“No, mom, mom, that old guy that interviews authors.”“Oh, Madeleine, you mean Larry King?”“Yeah, mom, that old dude.”
By now I’m laughing as I’m thinking it is way too early for this conversation about Larry King.On and on the past few days Madeleine would call in, (God Bless cellphones), and give me the latest. Mom, we just went to the Braves Museum and it was the best. I took my picture with Hank Aaron’s’ number and got a baseball, it was so cool and very informative.
Yes, she did say informative and that really got my attention. somehow thought her favorite part of the trip would be visiting the Margaret Mitchell house as how many times had I went on and on about “Gone With the Wind”? But no, her favorite part was Turner Stadium and going on the field.
I learned of her visiting Martin Luther King’s grave and his home and the Georgia Aquarium. By the time she got home, I felt as if I had gone on the trip with her and then of course, we had all the photographs she took of her trip.
Now the whole time this was going on with Madeleine we were in full throes of getting ready for the Jefferson Prom for Lainie. Lainie had designed her own dress and my good friend and Pulpwood Queen Kay Brookshire had created and sewn this prom masterpiece that was a knee length strapless concoction. The bodice was cream with black swirls, full satin skirt with side drapes, and cream tulle peeking out from under the hem. Very French and ooh la la. Now she wore this dress with a vintage black rhinestone necklace, bracelet, black sheer short gloves, cream lace anklets and black pumps. Her corsage was cream roses with black berries, black leather strips attached to a vintage arm cuff created by Timber Guy and florist extraordinaire, Dale Vaughn. Martha Stewart has nothing on the floral designs of Dale Vaughn. Her blonde hair was swept up to the side with side bangs and texture waves. She looked almost too grown up to me as where was my little girl? Her date had on a black pinstriped zoot suit complete with black hat and some kind of, was that a long watch chain. Not sure, but this was more like a theatrical production than prom. Well, she was going with all her friends from the Drama Club, Emily, Adam, Nick and Megan, what more could I expect? A long way from my Gunny Sak oatmeal colored prom dress with baby blue sprigs and sheer floppy hat on my long blonde parted down the middle hair. My date, Randy Click, who was 6’ 7” wore a baby blue ruffled tux. The theme to our prom was the song “Seasons in the Sun”. Lainie’s was suppose to be “Diamonds and Ice” but somewhere along the way they thought that sounded too drug related and changed it up somewhat. I laugh, as my junior year’s prom theme was “Stairway to Heaven”by Led Zeppelin. I guess things haven’t changed too much. Now on prom we left to change into blue jeans and work shirts to head out to a pasture party back in Kansas. All the kids Lainie went with changed to go Cyber bowling then out to eat breakfast at IHOP. As a mother the next day, I laughed as I cleaned out all the UNSPIKED Yahoo chocolate drinks out of my Inferno Red Pacific that I let the kids borrow for the prom night. Whew! I made it through another prom but still have one more for Lainie then Madeleine. My mantra is keep my kids safe, keep my kids safe. Lainie had to work the next day down at the General Store and Madeleine was returning home from Atlanta on the schools chartered bus. Both called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. Jay and I went to Lowe’s to buy sealer for the beaded wood walls of my NEW shop location then went to work at the new shop.
As he hooked up the telephone, internet, and television cables, I quietly painted in my new office. I had plenty of time to reflect on what is a mother. I came to this conclusion. A mother is one of the most important person’s in a child’s life. She may be the most important as she carries the child and feathers the nest. Mothers can make or break a child’s spirit. Leave that egg unattended and it may get snatched or broken. We are the ones totally responsible for teaching our children. We give our children wings, teach them how to fly, then send them on their way just like that little baby bird in the Dr. Seuss story. My girls are testing their wings and it seems those trial runs are working out well. They have big dreams, big hopes for the future. Their mother may have been slightly flawed, well make that a total basket case, but they seemed to have turned out pretty darn gosh good. As they flew out the door for school today, I see their futures looking bright. Who knows where they fly and will make their nests? I hope it is not too far but then again I can always fly, right? I would love to hear from you and what you think makes a great mother?Do you have a great mother story? Two of the happiest days of my life were when my girls were born, a miracle that often times I think we forget. Also God’s gift to us to give us that second chance to make things right in the world.
Tiara wearing, book sharing, and one proud momma,
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
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