Dear Mom,
This meme made me think of you and the powerful story you told me about your life as a young mother.
So what do I do? Write it out, of course.
You shared this wonderful little story with me when I asked you how you did it. I had three or 4 little babies and I was up to my eyeballs in… everything.
“How did you do it, Mom? How did you manage to be such a kind, kid-centered, unselfish mom and not completely lose your living loving mind?”
Once Upon a Time…
You and Dad had a been married a while,
had a couple little babies…
One baby…
Two babies…
Three babies…
…and life was crazy.
But, aw, weren’t we cute?
You were on call 24/7 and felt pushed to the max. Dad was working hard and not able to help as much as you both probably would have liked.
(Or he was clueless, as many young dads are, and didn’t recognize how burned out you were. Some of both?)
(Updated: Or he was working a new job that required he travel, like, 50% of the time. Yeah… I remember that.)
What if we just lived at the pool? Everyone is always happy at the pool!
Breaking Point
So what did you do when you hit that breaking point? You hit your knees and prayed intensely, begging for help because life was just so hard. One of the ways the Holy Ghost helps us is to “bring all things to our remembrance,” and this was one of those times. Into your mind came a clear memory…
Cue the flashback music…
You were a single college student. Your best friends were getting married off.
Not sure if she was actually in college here,
but she looked just like that, I’m sure. She never changes.
Working for that degree just didn’t seem meaningful. In fact, you were the only one of your friends who openly admitted to going to college for the express purpose of getting married. Yep. Way to own it, Mom!
So yeah. Much of the time, whacking away at a degree wasn’t exactly what you wanted to be doing.. In fact, it was pretty stressful.
You fantasized about the day when you’d be married and have cute little babies to take care of. You thought about it, dreamed about it, and prayed for it for years. Won’t that be wonderful? Someday….
And POOF! 10 years later, there you were! “Living the dream,” but more or less totally ungrateful. It was almost like God gave you a little kick in the pants — “You asked for this, remember?”
From that moment on, you were a changed mommy.
That was the pivotal moment. That was “how you did it.” You simply remembered how much you longed for this — and accepted the hard with the easy, the good with the bad. You even brought the three of us kids an adorable baby sister to balance out the craziness.
Kinda reminds me of a scripture in Hebrews chapter 10:
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions…
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Yes, there were hard days. Really hard days. But as a kid I always, always knew that we were lucky beyond words to have you as our sweet mommy.
You were fun.
And you still are!
You were creative.
(Yes, she made that!)
And you still are!
You were beautiful in our eyes…
And you still are! 
There will never be anyone more beautiful to me than you. Except for maybe my own daughters, but I think you probably understand the biased opinion of a love-struck parent… You and Dad both taught me that one. 😉
The world would be so boring without your fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, buoyant spirit! I mean, who else would think red-long-johns for Christmas Eve would be awesome – for grownups?
And I don’t even have to guess whose idea this was. I’m only sad I didn’t get to be there to see it!
But’s it not always about embarrassing jammies.
Who else would think that taking the grandbabies out in 4-degree weather would be a blast?
Or throwing ye old family dog out to float in a kiddie pool? Whose idea was it to acquire that wonderful family dog anyway?
Mm-hm. All you.
There was something special about mom, I thought as a kid, and now that I’m all “growed up,” I know I was right.
Why? What was so special?
You loved us. I didn’t ever think you felt like we were a nuisance – not really. (When you did, you hid it well!) The chores were the nuisance, homework was the nuisance, talking on the phone and being tugged at was a nuisance, yes — but WE, the lucky Mann kids, were the awesomeness in your life, and the loves of your heart, even when we were driving you crazy.
Thank you for remembering and trying to be the best mommy ever, because you were. And are.
And speaking of Dad —
Thank you for woo-ing
and winning us such a wonderful mother,
and for working incredibly hard so that Mom could be home with us.
You took really good care of us financially so that she could be the master nurturer that she is. You are a great example of excellence, hard work, and vision. I am so grateful for your teamwork and your sticking together through rough times. 
Still holding hands at your baby’s wedding… Awww…
You make a great team.
And still do.
So…
If you ever wanted to know that you gave your kids had the best shot at a good life that they could possibly get,
if you ever wondered if they’d grow up and appreciate the sacrifices you made for them,
if you ever hoped that they’d at least know that you loved them and did the best that you could…
I hope you remember,
You asked for it.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is beautiful! It was fun ( and sweet, and inspiring, and a highlight) to read about the woman who helped you develop into the awesome person I get to know and love! Thank you for sharing:-D
Aw, thanks! 🙂