Cherish....

My sweet Taylor is 7 years old. Such a young, innocent, fun age. I love her spunk, her creativity, and imagination. She is also at a very impressionable age. Things that may happen in her life right now, will affect her forever. We can try to keep her environment controlled, but some things are out of everyone's control.

Now, lets step back 48 years.

My mom was 7 years old. She was at a young, innocent, fun age. She had 2 older sisters, and 1 younger brother.

Then a tragedy affected her.

Her mother was killed in an accident.

I don't think that my mom fully understood what happened at that time. People were so taboo in talking honestly to kids then, that she was never given a decent explanation. She had to figure it out and put the pieces together for herself.

I can't imagine Taylor losing a parent right now in her life. She wouldn't understand it, just like my mom didn't. Taylor does have 2 moms and 2 dads in her life, so she would still have some people to support her.

My mom didn't.

My grandpa was a very gruff man. He didn't show his affection very well. He was a hard working man, and did his best to support his family. But he had 4 young kids to raise by himself.

My mom had to fend for herself most of the time. My grandpa did remarry 3 years after my grandma was killed. My mom did not get along with her and did not feel loved by her. They did not have a good relationship then.

Considering the childhood that my mom had, there are some crazy stories, my mom turned out exceptionally well. She has been married to the same man for 38 years, she has raised 3 kids, and I think she was a damn good mother.

She never had a good role model to watch to know how to be a good wife, to know how to be a great mom. She figured it out on her own.

She didn't have a mom to call when she had a sick baby and didn't know what to do.

She didn't have a mom to call when something great happened in her life, and she wanted to celebrate with someone.

She didn't have a mom to call when she was feeling sad or depressed about something and needed to talk.

She didn't have a mom to call when she got in a fight with my dad and just needed to vent.

She did do it on her own and did an amazing job. My mom is the best and grooviest mom that I could ever ask for. She is the perfect mom for us three kids, and she is the perfect wife and best friend for my dad.

Thank you mom, for being you. I often wonder how different things would be if grandma wouldn't have been killed that day. I am very sorry that you had a hard childhood and that I never got to meet my grandma, but I am very glad that you are the way you are.

So everyone who reads this....

Cherish your moms and the time that you get to spend with them. Not everyone is that lucky.

Cherish the time you get to be with your kids and the memories that you get to make. Remember that you do make a difference in their lives, and are very important to them.