"A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it."
~ Frank Howard Clark
Happy Mother's Day!
Last year I wrote a blog about my sisters and the importance they play in my life without a mother - my mother being stolen from our family when she was just 39 years old. She left behind a loving husband and 5 children - ranging in ages from 14 to 3.
Recently I realize that I left out a large group of amazing women that encouraged me, helped me find my way, and accepted me into their own families. I feel awful for not including them. So this is not only a year late but decades late - thank you to Mrs. FitzPatrick, Mrs. Forrester and Mrs. Ferrell (strangely this is the first time I realized they all had last names that began with the letter F).
These women had their own children to worry about, their own households to run yet they all had the wonderful ability to share their motherly love with me. Inclusion in family dinners, vacations, just sitting around "hanging out" with their families as though I was part of their families. Helping me through difficult times of my own, providing advice or just somehow knowing that I needed to be around a mother.
I remember one instance after my father and step-mother divorced, I was going to the local fireworks display with the FitzPatrick family. As we unloaded from the car, Mrs. FitzPatrick blocked my door and made me go out the other side. I didn't realize what was going on, but found out later it was because my stepmother was exiting the car next to ours. She immediately went into protect mode as though I was her own child.
Another time I was in a car accident during a snow storm I had no reason driving in. I was scared to call my father - who wouldn't be? My friends Jodi, Jenny and I returned to their house and their mother, Mrs. Faust, immediately called my father to break the news. Moms always have a way of calming dads down....and it was difficult not having a mom at home to go into that nurturing mode.
My own children are blessed with similar "other mothers." These women have families of their own....are balancing the work and the craziness of running a household.....running to the over-scheduled events our children are now involved in these days. Yet, whenever I need help....whenever my children need help....these women come to the rescue.
A ride here or there....a place to crash....a hug....an inside joke....a sharing of an accomplishment...or in times of unrest in our household (which believe me occurs when you have a few teenagers and a grieving mother), a voice of reason.
I love these women - and you know who you are. And my children love you too.
We would be lost without you.
As we celebrate Mother's Day in the Simmons household, know that we also celebrate the "Other Mother's" in our lives as well.
As the African proverb states, it does take a village to raise a child.
