A Mother's Love: An Everlasting Friendship

My vivacious mother has always been a strong influence on me. Mom has always had an enthusiasm for life and expressed abundant love toward her rambunctious children. Her gentle advice has directly affected the complicated decisions I'have had to reluctantly make over the years.

Mom, at the spirited age of twenty-three, found herself with three small children ranging from the tender age of one to the young age of five. Overwhelmed, she was left to raise them bravely alone. With the meager help of the welfare system, and the intermittent staple food from the church, my conscientious mother was determined to make ends meet. Mom showed great responsibility by boldly going to school to learn a highly skillful trade while being actively involved in her bright children's lives.

Surviving on watery spaghetti, our daily toast with the dreaded mayonnaise (because we could not afford the great luxury of creamy butter), tasteless powdered milk, and other bland foods, my Mom cheerfully made sure we never went hungry. The loud singing from Mom, as she joyfully cooked what she could throw together for her giggling children, can still be heard, faintly in my memories. Our scant two bedroom apartments and tiny duplex homes were eagerly decorated and adequately furnished. My mother, unselfishly, went without her privacy so her young daughter could enjoy having her own pink and frilly room. Her little boys would joyfully share a room, laughing blissfully from their bunk beds. Mom was satisfied with a lumpy sofa bed in the tiny living room; her only privacy was the quiet solace of the family bathroom.

I have eagerly carried the many lessons I learned from my admirable mother into adulthood. Mom effectively taught me to appreciate what I gratefully had. My mother proudly taught me that, with life, there is also great sacrifice. As a confident adult, I am intensely happy knowing that, throughout my busy life, I have never taken anything for granted.

Like mother, like daughter.

Credit: Bruce Stenman

Copyright: A. Tevlin