9 Things I Learned from My Mother

If asked to describe my mother, I would describe her as busy. Who would not be busy with 9 children? As the family grew, it became the older siblings responsibitly to care for and teach the younger ones how to do things. Much of what I learned to do, such as tying my shoe laces baking cookies, learning to read or to ice skate was taught by my older siblings. Mom liked to sew and spent long hours hidden in her "sewing room" making elaborate Halloween costumes or matching courduroy skirts for her daughters. She also liked to knit, retiring to her bedroom while Dad and the children watched television. Our beautiful cashmere Easter outfits were a hit at the Easter parade.

Another word I would use to describe is my mother is quiet. She was a woman of few words. She was not given to the long-winded lectures some parents use when teaching their children right from wrong. Looking back, it seems she believed children should get their education at school not in the home. Perhaps she had been intimidated by educators. Mom explained that the teachers said parents should not teach the children to read. Parents did not do it correctly, making it difficult for them to teach the skill. She was also berated for not forcing a left handed sibling to use his right hand the moment it became apparent he was thus inclined. Most of our conversations took place in the kitchen while she washed dishes when it was my turn to dry them.

Helping others was another thing that kept mom busy along with doing household chores.She was often too busy to pay a lot of attention to all her children. Although I learned most of my skills from older siblings, she did teach me how to prepare family meals. Again, it was in the kitchen where I spent the most time with Mom. Through actions, not words, my mother was teaching many things about herself and about life. Some of my favorite memories of my mother were time spent together in her vegatable garden or tending to her outdoor flowers. I have fond memories of walking to the cemetery helping her wheel the baby carriage. While she was busy tending to graves, I was busy looking after baby brother.